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(Beatrix, Franciscus & Paton) Go Ravenclaw
Author: Griet
Date: 12-30-15 17:54
At the sound of her name and the names of her teammates being called, Beatrix flew out of the locker room and waved at the crowd as she made a circuit around the Pitch. Then, she touched down at center field and walked a few paces to where Coach Krum and Jasper Jenkins stood waiting. Coach Krum reminded both team captains to play a clean game and had them shake hands. Then, the Beatrix and Jasper took to the skies again and prepared for tipoff.
The balls went up into the air in succession. Paton was quick to get his hands on the quaffle first. He pulled it tight to his body but threw it to Franciscus when one of the Hufflepuff first year beaters aimed a bludger at him. From the look on the girl's face, it almost seemed like it had been a happy accident. At any rate, Paton managed to avoid the bludger and Franciscus shot through a gap between players.
Beatrix watched the gameplay, temporarily at ease since her own team had possession of the quaffle. While she watched Franciscus throw the ball over to Penny, the third Ravenclaw chaser, she thought about how she had gone to Hogsmeade last weekend with Rowan, Lon, and Pablo Carioca. It was pretty obvious that Rowan wanted Beatrix to fall head over heels in love with Pablo. Beatrix had silently resolved to resist the idea, because in her heart she didn't think she could betray Ash, but Pablo turned out to be more charming than she ever imagined. They were totally dating now.
In addition to gaining a new boyfriend, Beatrix had taken care of all her Christmas shopping. Her Secret Santa recipient this year was Glori Hodfuffer, the other keeper playing in today's Quidditch match. Beatrix found the prettiest coral colored chiffon dress at Gladrags. If Glori didn't like it, than Beatrix would gladly wear it. She glanced at Glori, who was getting ready for the onslaught of the Ravenclaw chasers.
Penny shot the ball at Paton, who passed it forward to Franciscus. Franciscus dodged right to avoid a bludger, and then sent the quaffle flying. His throw was slightly off-kilter, so instead of going through the hoop it bounced off the rim and landed in Paton's arms. Paton tried for another goal, but Glori stopped it outright. She handed the ball to Duncan.
Franciscus and Paton had gone into Hogsmeade together last weekend, and like Beatrix, had conducted some Christmas shopping. This year, Franciscus had Marlow MacDougal for his Secret Santa person. Paton had Hunter Green. By chance, Franciscus had been in Gladrags the same time as Beatrix. She had picked out Marlow's gift when Franciscus asked her for advice on what to give. Marlow's gift was something Beatrix would like for herself, if Marlow didn't want it. It was a green satin skirt that was ideal for a Christmas party.
Paton, on the other hand, had found Hunter's gift at one of the pop-up stalls on High Street. It was a really cool backpack shaped like a beetle. Paton wasn't sure if Hunter liked bugs since he wasn't taking Care of Magical Creatures, or at least Paton didn't think Hunter was enrolled in the class. The backpack was really eye-catching, though, so hopefully Hunter would find it as fascinating as Paton did.
Duncan passed the quaffle to Marlow, who looked for an opening when Penny and Paton closed in on her. She spotted Jasper open and attempted a pass when she thought she might be successful, but Franciscus appear out of nowhere for the interception. He turned the pack right around and drove at the Hufflepuff goal hoops. He shot the quaffle the same time Kurt aimed a bludger at Glori. Glori jerked away because the bludger came at her from the side, pushing her away from the hoop Franciscus had his sights on. The quaffle went through, no problem.
"Vanderbilt scores for Ravenclaw!" Willow announced. "Ravenclaw leads, 10-0!"
Glori retrieved the quaffle and handed it off to Jasper. Jasper threw it long to Duncan, who tucked it under his arm and set off for the Ravenclaw hoops with little distraction. That was temporarily, though. Paton managed to catch up to him before his fellow chasers and tried to pop the ball free from Duncan's grasp but carefully, since he didn't want to cause a foul.
Someone's bludger forced Paton to spiral away, and gave Duncan another opportunity to reach the Ravenclaw hoops. Franciscus quickly caught up to his cousin and together they drove forward, eager to stop Hufflepuff from scoring either by intercepting a pass or lifting the ball straight from someone's grasp.
Wenlock Cousins In The Match
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 12-30-15 19:40
Marlow rubs a finger across one eye, annoyed with an eyelash that keeps poking irritatingly. She gives a small sigh, not only because of the bloody stupid eyelash but also because there's been a lot of back and forth in the time since Ravenclaw made a goal. Not all that long ago really in the grand scheme but to Marlow it feels like it's been at least an hour or two.
Willow Westwick's running patter on the game action makes Marlow think of the Secret Santa exchange. She drew Willow's name and then spent days trying to think of a gift to give. Marlow thought of a number of presents that would have been immensely suitable but she ended up putting each thought aside, continuing to mull over what to give.
Last Saturday while in Hogsmeade, she looked at a number of items that were along the lines of the varied and many ideas she'd had but still couldn't make herself commit to any of them. When she was at a temporary stand with a good many unique and interesting jewelry items, Marlow spotted a willow tree necklace. She knows it could be considered overly twee but Marlow couldn't resist.
Marlow stops fidgeting with her eye to scurry to intercept a pass between Penny Puckett and Paton Shrewsbury. She's not there quickly enough to out and out catch the quaffle but her hand reaching for it does alter its course. Duncan Dippet is there to snatch it up, making the steal complete.
Marlow alters direction, shooting after Duncan and Jasper, the Ravenclaw chasers right there to try and retake possession. Duncan makes as if to pass to Jasper only to throw to Marlow. She'd bought into him passing to Jasper so wasn't quite prepared, fumbling the catch. Thankfully, she's able to quickly recover, tightly holding onto the quaffle as she accelerates.
A bludger, she doesn't know from whom, connects with one arm. She never had a sense of it coming and the hit is unexpected enough that though the bludger doesn't hit the arm holding the quaffle, Marlow almost drops the ball. Almost.
Another bludger is coming at her. Marlow swerves while passing to Jasper. Duncan, Jasper, and she drive in to where Beatrix Vanderbilt is on high alert. Jasper lets the quaffle go only to have Beatrix out and out catch it. Marlow frowns and though she sees Jasper's mouth move, she's not close enough to hear what expletive he's most likely uttered.
Beatrix hands off to Franciscus Vanderbilt, who in turn gives the ball over to Penny with a forward pass. Penny rockets away only to take a bludger straight on from Tessa Filby. Jasper is impressed. He didn't know Tessa had it in her to do a full on hit to someone's chest like that. She's played well in practice but he wasn't sure how she'd be in an actual match. So far this game, she's given him nothing to worry about. At this rate, she's going to be one of those quiet ones that no one takes as much of a threat until feeling a blow from one of her bludger hits.
Duncan swoops in to snatch the quaffle from Penny. She's trying to catch her breath from that bludger hit but still able to stave off Duncan's steal attempt. Paton forces Duncan back by flying straight at him then wedging himself between Duncan and Penny. She soon hands off to Paton who then pulls rapidly ahead.
Jasper puts himself between Paton and Franciscus just as Paton throws the quaffle. Jasper intercepts, whips his broom around and, increasing his speed, shoots away. He and his chaser teammates work the ball back down to where Beatrix looks eager to get back into the action.
Marlow has the ball as they near but hands off to Duncan at the last second. Duncan throws the quaffle towards one of the hoops. Beatrix slaps it away. Jasper has to dive for the ball, narrowly beating Franciscus to it. He throws, Beatrix hurling herself at the quaffle as it passes by her. The quaffle knocks against the hoop's rim, Beatrix's fingers grazing it but the quaffle goes through, giving Hufflepuff its first goal of the match.
The score is now tied at 10 to 10.
Ravenclaw takes the quaffle and the gameplay moves back down the pitch to where Glori Hodfuffer is patrolling in front of the hoops at that end. Jasper has Glori's cousin Hydrangea Marchbanks for Secret Santa. He got Hydrangea a chess set with pieces that look like wild animals such as zebras, elephants, and lions. Jasper selected the chess set because he happened to be with Hydrangea and a few others when she first saw it and wanted to buy it herself right then if not for the fact that Christmas is coming and she could put it on her wish list.
As Paton moves accept a pass from Franciscus, Jasper hurries to interfere only to be stopped short by a bludger sent by Jade Green. Watching for another opening, Jasper hopes the next goal is made by Hufflepuff so that his team will take the lead.
Watching the Match
Author: Susan Fricks
Date: 12-31-15 03:08
Susan was at the stands with Maud, Blair and Georgiana, watching the match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Duncan Dippet had scored for the Hufflepuff team, and the match was now tied again. Susan really hoped Ravenclaw would win the match. Maud pinched Susan's arm and she pointed out to a first year boy. It wasn't clear if he had just arrived, or if he was on his way out.
"That's Jacob Harper," Maud told Susan.
Jacob was Susan's Secret Santa. She had no idea who he was but Maud and Blair knew, because he was from their year. Maud told her Jacob was a Ravenclaw just like them, but for some reason it had been hard to find Jacob at the common room the past days. Susan wanted to have a look at the boy she was going to offer a present too. Finally there he was. She had some trouble finding a gift for a boy, and she ended up buying Jacob a hat. She stopped looking at Jacob and her eyes returned to the match, as a bludger passed somewhat closer to where they were seated at.
Susan might have a hard time trying to find a gift for her Secret Santa, but Blair didn't. She knew Edwina Trainor well, because they were on the same year, and had some classes together. Blair had no trouble finding a gift for Edwina because since they were the same age and gender, all she had to do was to think of a gift she would like to have herself. Of course they were different people, but chances were that Edwina would like the gift Blair picked. It was a raincoat, with a beautiful pattern, but soft enough that wouldn't be hurtful to the eye.
Just like her sister, Andrina was also watching the Quidditch match. She was seated on the other side of the pitch, however at the moment she wasn't paying much attention to what was going on. She was thinking about the duet rehearsal she had scheduled with Titus Nott, later today.
Andrina had been horrified when Professor Flitwick had chosen Titus to sing with her. She had been waiting for a chance to sing a duet for long, but she didn't want to do so with Titus. He was a bitter boy, and she didn't like him at all. But he had a good voice and when they started singing together, she noticed how well their voices combined. Being part of the Hogwarts Harmonies was very important to her and she was really looking forward to show Professor Flitwick how hard they worked on the duet and how good they were at it. At first, it had been hard working with Titus, but she quickly learned that the easiest way to work with him was via little agreements. If she allowed him to copy her homework, he would corporate quite well. Today's rehearsal would cost Andrina her History of Magic essay on the second goblin war. But she didn't mind at all, as long as Titus didn't show up late.
She had already bought her Secret Santa gift. His name was Lev Torres, and he was a third year Ravenclaw. Andrina had bought him a t-shirt. She didn't knew what things Lev might like, but she thought clothing was always a good option. She had used the same thinking when she helped Titus picking his present for Coach Krum.
Someone shouted, not far from where she was seated and she started paying attention to the match, wondering if anyone had scored, or committed a fowl.
(Tessa) First Ever Match
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 01-01-16 12:29
Tessa couldn't believe she was actually playing in a real Quidditch match. It was so unreal that it took her a little while to forget that most of the school and some visitors had filled up the stands to watch her and the others play in the match. She felt ecstatic and self-conscious all at once and temporarily lost some of the confidence she had built up during practices and the workshops she'd attended prior to this first real game of Quidditch.
As the match wore on, she adapted more and more to the situation. Her nerves calmed, the excitement, though still there, was less of a distraction, and she managed to more or less tune out everybody in the crowd. She concentrated only on her job, which was to help her teammates by protecting them from bludgers and to stop the Ravenclaw players from stealing the quaffle and worse, scoring!
Right now the Ravenclaws had the quaffle. Penny passed it to Paton. Paton passed it to Franciscus. Tessa simultaneously watched the quaffle's progress and kept an eye out for a bludger to use against the Ravenclaw chasers. She spotted one that Jade looked to be aiming at Jasper and quickly put herself between it and her teammate. They were fairly close to a section of stands. When Tessa intercepted the bludger, she immediately redirected it at Franciscus. It would have hit him, had Paton not called out a hasty warning to his cousin. Franciscus swerved suddenly and lost his hold on the quaffle.
Meanwhile, the bludger continued on its path and went into the stands, where it would have hit a group of screaming students, some of whom had begun to clumsily scatter. Luckily, Professor Krum had been nearby and froze the ball midair before it could do any sort of damage.
He blew his whistle, pausing the match, and shouted, "Foul! Bumphing!"
Tessa gulped. She had never, ever caused a foul in practice or at the workshops and to commit one right then and there in front of everybody was absolutely mortifying. The good news was Ravenclaw did not get an extra chance at scoring, and since Duncan had recovered the ball after Franciscus lost it, game play continued with Hufflepuff in possession of the quaffle.
Tessa glanced quickly at the staff box to see if all the professors were frowning at her accidental bad behavior, but only the ones who usually wore scowls on their faces looked perturbed, so Tessa felt doubly relieved. Her gaze quickly fell on Professor Hodfuffer, who taught one of the elective classes Tessa wasn't yet old enough to take, and who was also a published author. She had drawn his name for Secret Santa, and after some deliberation and not a lot of bright ideas, she had gotten him two sets of high quality though rather plain stationary. She figured he would get a use out of them.
Willow & Rowan at the Match
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 01-01-16 15:26
"Dippet passes to Jenkins. Jenkins throws long––ooh, that was a close one!" Willow exclaimed, after Jasper nearly took a bludger to the head. He ducked with seconds to spare. Luckily, he'd let the quaffle fly before the near hit, allowing Marlow to catch the ball as intended. She wove around Sophie, who seemed focused on her systematic search for the snitch, and drove forward with her sights set on the goal hoops guarded by Beatrix.
"MacDougal shoots… but Vanderbilt blocks. MacDougal with the rebound…" Marlow quickly fired off the quaffle again, this time with a bit of a spin to her throw. Beatrix awkwardly threw herself at the red ball, making a face as she did so, and managed to get her fingers on it. The ball bounced back into the assembled chasers, with her cousin Paton wrestling it from Marlow's grasp. He sped away, with Franciscus and Penny flanking his either side.
The Ravenclaw chasers worked the quaffle down the Pitch. Besides being cousins and best friends, Franciscus and Paton had played Quidditch together long enough now to understand each other's habits. Penny was the new chaser in the mix, but she seemed to blend right in.
Willow had even seen Penny laughing and talking with the boys last Saturday in Hogsmeade. Amorica, who'd been with her at the time, had joked that it looked like Penny had two boyfriends. Willow didn't think that would ever happen, since surely Franciscus and Paton wouldn't want to share any girl, but though she knew them from her classes, she couldn't say she knew them well.
She and Amorica had done their Secret Santa/Christmas shopping while in the village. This year Willow drew Justin Hodges' name. He was a sixth year like Penny, but in Hufflepuff instead of Ravenclaw. He was also from Australia, which made him more attractive than Willow already thought he was. She hadn't realized how cute he was until she started paying attention to him in order to figure out what to get him for Christmas.
She ended up finding a funny knitted hat at one of the special booths lined up along High Street. It had a mohawk and was hopefully something he would find amusing and actually want to wear. Maybe he'd even remember who gave it to him.
In a different part of the Quidditch Pitch sat Rowan with Lon and Pablo. Rowan and Pablo were all decked out in Ravenclaw colors, while Lon wore the brightest yellow sweater imaginable in support of his own team. He really stood out amidst the sea of blue and bronze of all the Ravenclaws with whom he sat.
Rowan's Secret Santa person was Liannah MacDougal, Rowan's roommate. While in Hogsmeade last Saturday, Rowan found the prettiest headband and hair pins. She wrapped them this morning and put them under the tree in the Common Common Room. Although she couldn't know for sure, Rowan had a good feeling that Liannah would love her gift.
Beater Blackwell
Author: Saffron
Date: 01-01-16 18:23
Kurt almost hadn't believed his luck in making the Ravenclaw team as a beater. All week as the match approached, he found himself more and more nervous but once he got in the air this morning, the nerves settled or mostly so. He's doing well he thinks but will know better after the match when he is sure to get feedback from team captain and co-captain, Beatrix and Jade, respectively, and from other team members. Probably from friends. He wouldn't be in the least surprised if his sister Callie weighs in.
He zeros in on a bludger, slowing as he nears. Hufflepuff just retook the quaffle and Kurt would like to assist the Ravenclaw chasers in changing that status. Jasper has the red ball so that's where Kurt sends the black one. Conrad stops it before it reaches Jasper, redirecting it towards Paton who's getting in close to Jasper.
Kurt tries to get there in time to aid Paton but he can't. Good thing Paton was able to avoid the bludger, even if only just. Approaching that same bludger Kurt now directs the ball at Marlow who looks to be positioning herself to accept a pass from Jasper. This time the bludger strikes true and the hit does keep Marlow from successfully catching that pass.
Franciscus swoops in to take the quaffle, darting around Marlow to avoid a smash up with her. He sprints away, Jade diverting a bludger from him that Kurt thinks Tessa sent. Franciscus rapidly covers the short distance back to Hufflepuff keeper Glori.
He shoots but Glori kicks the quaffle away from the hoop. Franciscus and Duncan grabs for the ball, Duncan looking to have it only to lose it again when Jade's able to get a bludger to him. The quaffle goes in a direction away from Franciscus. Kurt misses seeing Penny get hold of it as he's getting into a good position to send a bludger at Glori. He hears Willow saying Puckett has the ball.
Kurt gets the bludger away with a good solid wallop as Penny struggles to get a clear shot of one of the hoops. She ends up handing of to Paton, who's able to fire off the quaffle. It's heading for a hoop about the same time that bludger Kurt batted reaches Glori. It smacks her arm as she's reaching for the quaffle, allowing the quaffle to glide by her outstretched out.
The score now stands 20 Ravenclaw, 10 Hufflepuff.
Not So Glorious
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 01-02-16 15:04
During a lull due to the quaffle having to be inspected to see if it needs to be replaced Glori looks over to where Willow Westwick calls the matches. Her sister Rowan is a classmate of Glori's, Ravenclaw to Glori's Hufflepuff, is a friend, and is who Glori has for this year's Secret Santa. Rowan's birthday is in January, making her birthstone garnet. Glori found some pretty garnet earrings in the shape of flowers to give Rowan. Earlier in the week she'd placed the gift wrapped in garnet red paper on which lacy snowflakes slowly fall under the large tree in the Common Commons.
Coach Krum determines that the current quaffle is usable and gets the match going again. Hufflepuff had had the quaffle when it was knocked out of bounds by a bludger from Ravenclaw so Hufflepuff is to whom Krum hands over the ball. They are close to Beatrix and her hoops and even from this distance Glori can see her immediately go vigilant as Duncan, Jasper, and Marlow rapidly work the quaffle closer.
Marlow has the quaffle, readying to throw for a hoped for goal when Kurt knocks her with a bludger. Penny grabs the quaffle away from Marlow, maneuvers her broom for a somewhat lopsided throw to Paton. He's headed the right direction to streak away from that end of the pitch.
It's Glori's turn to be more vigilant. They still have a ways to go to reach her but she needs to be ready for when that happens. Paton has the quaffle almost three-quarters of the way before he's forced by Jasper to pass to Franciscus.
Franciscus still has the ball as he nears Glori. He cocks his arm back to throw, pulls in his arm suddenly as a bludger nears, then resets for the throw. Glori's shifts to her left, on arm outstretched, hand flat to bat the quaffle away.
Jasper goes for the quaffle but a bludger from Jade allows Penny to get to it first. Penny throws the quaffle as far in the other direction from Glori as is possible and still have it on track to pass through a hoop. Glori is forced to do a combination of fast flying and throwing her body while still maintaining a good grip on her broom, her fingers forming a scoop around the quaffle to shove it back.
Paton has the ball now and rapidly fires it off, again sending it far from Glori forcing her to scramble again. This time her fingertips brush the quaffle, which glides by through the hoop, grazing the rim in the process.
Glori frowns, as much at herself as at the Ravenclaw chasers, as Willow announces the score is now Ravenclaw 30, Hufflepuff 10.
Hand Camp For Some Reason (Jade)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 01-02-16 18:41
Jade massages her hand as she flies the width of a pitch for a bludger, her bat tucked under one arm for the moment. She has no idea why her hand has decided to start cramping. She's not had this sort of problem in ages. Slowing as she approaches the bludger, reaching for her bat handle, Jade wonders if some of her electrolytes are out of balance.
Sending the bludger in Duncan's direction, she glances to where Bran is scouring the pitch for the snitch. Ravenclaw is up by 20 and if Bran would get the snitch any second now, with a nice score and Jade would give her hand a rest. As it starts cramping again, she switches the bat to her other hand, glad yet again she's gotten proficient playing with her non-dominant hand.
Duncan manages to avoid that bludger only to be hit by the other, sent by Kurt. The Hufflepuff retains the quaffle but Jade can tell by the way Duncan shifts the ball in his hands that his shoulder's stinging something fierce. Most likely the stinging will subside with the next few minutes but until it does, he'll probably be careful with that shoulder.
Franciscus notices this as well, or so Jade guesses, because he darts in close to Duncan, on the side where the quaffle is currently cradled. Jade moves in on that same bludger she hit only a moment ago, thinking to send it towards Duncan again. She holds though when Franciscus successfully steals the ball.
Then she does bat the bludger at Duncan as he tries to get the quaffle back from Franciscus. Franciscus dodges Duncan only to have Jasper come up on his other side. Franciscus throws forward to Penny who in turn passes off to Paton.
The Ravenclaw chasers soon have the quaffle to the halfway point of the pitch. That's when a bludger from Tessa changes the direction of the action. The bludger causes Paton to lose the quaffle, allowing Marlow to snatch it up.
Jade sends a bludger at Marlow only to have Conrad intercept it, batting it at Duncan instead. Marlow hands off to Jasper, who is now near enough to the hoops to try for a goal. Beatrix rebuffs the quaffle only to have Duncan catch it and immediately throw again, his shoulder seemingly fine now. Tessa assists with a bludger that neither Jade nor Kurt can stop in time from reaching Beatrix. Duncan's throw gets by, giving Hufflepuff its second goal of the match, making for a score of 30 to 20.
As Ravenclaw accepts the quaffle to put it back into play, Jade is flexing her dominant hand and considering massaging it more. Catching sight of a few people as she angles around to approach a bludger reminds Jade she needs to put her Secret Santa gift under the commons tree where Professor Jones, or make that Goode, can find it.
Jade found a pretty silver picture frame for Illyria Goode to use for a wedding photo or honeymoon photo or simply a picture of her and her new husband together.
Hunter had also drawn a staffer's name, that of librarian Azaelia Blackheart. He found a two for one buy on t-shirt type tops that he has no idea if she'd like or would wear but he figured that being younger she might dress down from time to time, especially when she's not working. Also, he thought that she could wear them under her professional robes if she wanted.
Jade makes a mental note to ask Hunter if he's put his gift under the tree as she approaches the bludger to whap in Jasper's direction.
Suddenly Can't Stop Yawning (Bran)
Author: Saffron
Date: 01-02-16 19:49
Inhaling deeply, Bran once again feels a slight tightness in his chest that might signal he's becoming congested. With this next week the last before winter break and filled with papers and projects due and exams, now is not the time to be coming down with something. At least for now, with the match against Hufflepuff, he feels fine overall. No stuffiness. No headache. No constantly running nose. No persistent coughing. When the game ends, he'll be sure to visit Madam Pomfrey for some potion or salve or something that would help keep him from getting sick or at least keep it mild and more livable.
Bran sees something fluttering, a surge of adrenaline starting only to deflate as he realizes it's a tattered leaf being carried on an updraft. He has seen the snitch once for certain since the winged ball was released. The sighting was early in the match. The little ball was hovering near the backside of one of the hoops where Beatrix was watching as Hufflepuff brought the quaffle nearer.
Bran had gone in pursuit, making it a quarter of length of the pitch before anyone else noticed. By the time Sophie got there to join in, Bran had taken a bludger hit and lost sight of the tiny ball. Sophie didn't see it either. They'd shrugged and gone back to searching.
Suddenly yawning Bran doesn't know if it's the cold December air, the tightness in his chest, or just because that caused it. He's not tired. Or doesn't think he is. Maybe he is but he's so charged for the match he's not feeling it. Yawning hugely again he thinks it really doesn't matter the reason.
Wiping one eye, the moisture brought on by the yawns, Bran sees fluttering again. At first he puts it down to that same leaf. Only now that he thinks about it, that leaf was behind where he is now and the small breeze is blowing away from him, not towards.
Trying not to get overly excited again but failing, Bran guides his broom in that direction. The spot of gold grows larger as he approaches. Bran would look around to see where Sophie is in relation to the snitch and him but he's worried if he did that the snitch would vanish again.
He gets closer, trying not to be overly noticeable so that Willow won't announce to everyone within hearing range that the snitch has been spotted. About that time she does just that. From across the pitch Sophie comes streaking at high speed his way. When a bludger smacks into him from behind, Duncan jolts forward but recovers quickly. The snitch is gone and Sophie, not seeing it either, goes back to her own search pattern.
Kurt flies past, mouthing a sorry his way, probably because he didn't get to that bludger in time to stop it from getting Bran. Kurt bats that very same bludger at Hufflepuff chaser Jasper, who is closing in on Beatrix for a goal attempt.
The bludger doesn't get to Jasper in time but Beatrix blocks. Paton catches the rebound, moving the main game play away from Beatrix back down the pitch towards Glori. Bran wipes one eye again after another big yawn then gives his full attention once more to locating that elusive snitch.
Beater Action
Author: Ellis
Date: 01-03-16 12:09
Conrad swooped in to utilize the bludger recently aimed at Jasper on Beatrix, who was in the process of defending her goals. It struck her outstretched arm and caused it to bend back, but not in a way that would break a bone or tear a tendon. All the bludger did was make it impossible for Beatrix to stop the quaffle thrown by Marlow from going through the hoop.
"MacDougal scores!" shouted the commentator. "The score is tied, 30-30!"
Conrad beamed and quickly raced after the nearest bludger, which he got to just seconds before Kurt. Conrad batted it at Penny, who had the quaffle in her arms. Jade dove down to intercept it before it could hit Penny and redirected it at Jasper, who was trying desperately to reclaim the quaffle for Hufflepuff. Jasper spun away to avoid getting hit.
Conrad tried again. He sped after the bludger, along with Jade, who wanted to use it again on one of the Hufflepuff chasers. Jade was nearer but Conrad quicker. He overtook her and whirled around, hitting the bludger with all his might. Jade flinched from the nearness of his bat and the ball to her body but then raced after the bludger. It managed to nail Penny in the thigh before Jade could reach it, but then Jade used it on Marlow.
Marlow moved out of the way to avoid a direct hit, but the bludger nevertheless clipped her shoulder. Conrad batted it at Penny again, who hadn't lost possession of the quaffle. This time Penny avoided getting hit, and she handed the red ball off to Paton. Paton threw it long to Franciscus, who tried for a goal. Glori stopped the ball outright.
She tossed the ball to Duncan. Conrad fell in beside him when he discovered that the Ravenclaw beaters had a temporary monopoly on the bludgers. Conrad blocked Duncan from getting hit by one, while Tessa took on the other one. Those bludgers were then used on Paton and Franciscus, respectively, when the cousins made it clear they wanted to harass Duncan from either side. They veered away for a moment, and Duncan drove rapidly down the field. He was suddenly stopped short by both seekers, when they cut across his path in pursuit of the snitch.
Adrenaline
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 01-03-16 12:58
Not long after Marlow had scored, tying the match, Sophie got her eyes on the snitch. She noticed that Bran had seen it too, because she felt him right behind her, when she started chasing the little golden ball. Soon he was flying at her side. Sophie tried to ignore his presence, as well as the rest of her surroundings. The two seekers passed by Duncan, who was currently holding the quaffle.
A bludger passed so close that she had been able to hear it whistling on her ear. Thank Merlin it didn't hit her. She heard Willow Westwick saying that the author of such move had been Kurt Blackwell, Ravenclaw's new beater. The snitch flight was steady and straightforward. But that changed when it reached Hufflepuff's right hoop. It started to go down and around the metal structured, in a spiral.
Both Sophie and Bran followed it, and it didn't take long for Sophie to feel dizzy. She knew she would lose her balance soon if the snitch didn't change its route. Mercifully that happened a moment later. The two seekers continued flying after the snitch. Earlier Sophie had felt the December cold on her skin, but now as she made all the efforts she could to be the first to get the snitch, she didn't feel a thing. Adrenaline took over her body. Whoever grabbed the snitch would grant the victory to their house. Last year, when Sophie played against Bran, he had managed to get the snitch first, and her heart was beating fast because she knew he could do that again, as he started to gain a certain distance from her. He was very fast!
She needed to do something about and quickly, or she was going to be left behind. She speeded up her broom, using all the energy she had. Now she and Bran were so close to the golden snitch that she could hear its wings fluttering. Bran reached out for the snitch first, since he was closer to it, but he didn't grab it by little. Once his hand was closed, holding nothing but air, Sophie's own hand was grabbing the snitch. She heard the explosion of cheerings coming from the stands and she took a deep breath, relieved, as Willow announced that Hufflepuff had won the match.
As she was shaking hands with Bran, she looked to the place teachers used to sit during the game, trying to spot her Secret Santa, Professor Dante Knight. Sophie had bought him a multi-use book holder, at Hogsmeade. She was sure he would give good use to it, since he was a teacher and after all books were needed in his profession.
Hurt Shoulder (Duncan)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 01-03-16 14:23
Duncan goes to raise both arms in a jubilant cheer that Hufflepuff has won the match against Ravenclaw 180 to 30, only to drop one arm back down, grimacing a little as he does. Duncan took a few hits to the same shoulder and he's really feeling it now. The first time wasn't so bad. The spot the bludger whapped stung for awhile but that awhile was really only about five minutes or less.
The second time the bludger hit pretty much the exact same spot as the first hit. Duncan had been in the process of releasing the quaffle for a goal attempt. The bludger came from behind and knocked him forward but didn't affect his throw overall.
The third hit was near that spot but a little to the right. That one was the hardest of the three. Ravenclaw had the quaffle, Penny zipping around Kurt and Conrad both going after the same bludger. Duncan was right on her heals, looking for an opening to steal when BAM! Jade got him. The hit caused him to slow temporarily, and gave Penny a good opening to throw to Franciscus.
His shoulder has throbbed since then, the pain getting slowly worse the more he used that arm. Reaching his other arm around to gently massage and palpate that shoulder, Duncan decides it might be good to visit Madam Pomfrey if for no reason than for some muscle ointment.
As he walks to the locker room to get out of his Quidditch robes, Duncan looks for Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen among the adult spectators still milling around. The Alchemy professor, and Ravenclaw alumnus, is who Duncan has for Secret Santa. Looking through a catalog someone discarded in the Common Commons he found what he hopes is something Professor Schnackenpfefferhausen will like and wear. It's an tie tack with an alchemical symbol. It arrived only yesterday and Duncan got it under the tree last night. He doubts the professor has had time to see a gift for him is under the commons tree.
Duncan's cousin Grace knew what she wanted to give her Secret Santa as soon as she saw the name Calliope Torres. She wrote her mum, including a page torn out of a recent Gladrags circular, the photo of a lacy pink top circled. Briar had gotten the top that very day and sent it the next morning, letting Grace do the wrapping. Grace put it under the commons tree soon after.
After the Match
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 01-03-16 14:41
Fritz and Coco sit in the staff box and watch the match between their old house, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. Things are neck and neck until Sophie McCourt catches the snitch, putting an end to the match and making the two former Ravenclaws feel a bit disappointed.
They linger behind a few minutes to avoid congestion in the stairwell. They also stay a bit longer because sitting there instead of elsewhere in the Pitch feels surreal. In the three and a half months Fritz has been a professor at Hogwarts, he has grown used to making lesson plans and teaching his sixth and seventh year students, but he hasn't yet gotten used to all the perks of being staff instead of student.
He missed the first match between Gryffindor and Slytherin because of a seminar he attended at St. Emrys. Today's match was the first he experienced from the staff box. He couldn't say it affords him a better view––just a different one––but it's definitely a change from the norm and somehow feels special.
Now that he's at Hogwarts again, he can participate in Secret Santa once more. This year he drew Lilith Balfour's name. Lilith is a four year Slytherin student and not someone he knows since he graduated before she started at Hogwarts and isn't one of his students.
For Lilith, Fritz special ordered a treasure chest of German seasonal gingerbreads and other Christmas treats, including cinnamon stars, speculatius biscuits, butter biscuits, vanilla crescents, and more. The treasure chest is something Lilith can use for anything once she has eaten all of the sweets. Fritz has no doubt she will find it useful.
After a few minutes of sitting, Fritz and Coco finally decide to get up and make their way over to the stairwell. It's cold enough that getting hot chocolate or eating soup or a hearty stew sounds like the best next step.