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Easy Goal Made (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 06-28-16 20:00
Ducan Dippet had gotten the quaffle first but Belinda McCourt quickly relieved him of it. Belinda flew the ball about a quarter of the way to the hoops where Glori Hodfuffer serves as keeper for Hufflepuff. Belinda then passed to Malden McGonagall.
As Malden is currently co-captain, if he makes the team next year Mason believes he'll be named captain. Or Asher Kent. Baron Marchbanks maybe co-captain though Baron would make a good captain and next year is his last.
Mason mentally snaps his fingers. There is no Quidditch next year. The Scholastic Aptitude Tournament is being held instead. Mason can't decide if he's glad he won't be at Hogwarts or if he sort of wishes he were a sixth year now so he could participate. Some of the events could be good, like the broom racing one and the magical creatures one. If he were doing the magical creatures one, what magical creature would he do?
Malden's reached the hoops and Glori so no time now to ponder that SAT question and whether he'd be happy about there being no Quidditch or not were he still a student.
A bludger from Tessa has Malden hastily passing to Mason. Mason hurls the quaffle towards a hoop, Baron aiding with a bludger of his own. The bludger connects with Glori's outstretched arm. It's only a glancing blow but it's enough that she can't stop the quaffle.
Mason can't resist a joyous whoop. Only minutes into the match and Slytherin has ten points on the scoreboard!
A disgruntled looking Glori gives the quaffle over to Jasper Jenkins who in turn passes off to Duncan Dippet. Duncan, looking determined, takes off for the other end of the pitch. This is an important match for Hufflepuff. Slytherin has a lock on the championship match. Ravenclaw edged out Gryffindor by ten points. Depending on how Hufflepuff performs today determines whether it's Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw competing against Slytherin for the Quidditch Cup.
Mason doesn't really care who they play for the cup. He's beyond pleased that this is not his last match.
Moving in for an attempted inception of a pass between Duncan and Marlow MacDougal, Mason cannot suppress a gleeful smile. The only downside of this year is having to end it taking the dreaded NEWTs!
(Asher) Disappointments
Author: Jolyon
Date: 06-29-16 18:28
Asher wondered if it would be bad form if he accidentally-on-purpose batted a bludger Malden's way. They still weren't friends, and with the news bluntly delivered by Arielle only that morning that Malden would be her date to their parents' wedding, Asher felt even more steamed. He hated the fact that his mother had decided to remarry someone for whom he had no respect. He hated the fact that his former best friend was dating his sister. He REALLY hated the fact that he would have to witness both couples come together on a dreaded summer's day.
Asher curbed the impulse to hit his own teammate with a bludger and aimed for Marlow instead. She had just managed to catch Duncan's pass, despite Mason's efforts to intercept the ball, but her grip was a bit uncertain. Mason continued to harass her, and when Asher's bludger struck Marlow between the shoulder blades, Mason successfully yanked the ball from her grip and turned around for the Hufflepuff goal hoops.
Asher raced after the bludger used on Marlow, but he was a fraction too slow. The Hufflepuff firstie Conrad batted the ball at Mason, so Asher changed course and moved to protect Mason from the bludger. It was all too easy. Asher sped up to catch up to the black ball, overtook it, and then gave it a hard whack in Duncan's direction. Duncan was nearest to Mason and looked eager to cause a distraction or disruption.
Unfortunately, the other Hufflepuff beater Tessa called out a warning to Duncan. Duncan threw a quick look over his shoulder to determine the best course of action for avoiding getting hit and then rolled to his left. Meanwhile, Mason somehow got buffeted into the bludger's path and was struck in the upper arm. He didn't fumble the ball after the hit, but his grip on it loosened enough for Jasper to steal it.
Jasper whipped his broom around and took off like a shot, with Duncan and Marlow filing in on either side of him. Asher made quick work of locating a usable bludger and drove after one that Tessa also had set her sights on. He knew he could easily spoil her intentions by jerking his broomstick in front of hers and did so when he knew she would either crash into him or swerve suddenly and possibly spin out. She did swerve, but she retained control of her broomstick and only wound up losing her momentum. Asher swooped in to hit the bludger and felt good about getting to the black ball first, but it would have been more satisfying if Tessa had met with an accident or barfed up her guts from spinning in rapid circles too many times.
Oh, well. The game wasn't over yet.
(Tessa) Determination
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 06-29-16 19:23
Tessa gripped the handle of her broom more tightly and nudged it after the bludger Asher had just beaten her to. It was sailing straight for Jasper, who had possession of the quaffle at the moment. Without knowing he was the target of attack, Jasper handed the ball off to Marlow. She sped forward and then lobbed the ball over Jasper's head to Duncan. The bludger ended up missing Jasper altogether, but it caught him by surprise when it passed his ear. Baron happened to be on the other end of it and got ready to use it against Duncan. Tessa sped up for the interception, but she was too far away and Baron was in too good a position not to do some damage to somebody.
Luckily, Conrad was also in a prime location. He pounced on the bludger before it could hit Duncan in the face and redirected it at Belinda. Baron was quick to defend his teammate and tried to hit Duncan again. Duncan passed the quaffle to Jasper and took the hit to his shoulder.
Tessa charged for the other bludger, which Asher was again trying to utilize. She felt smug satisfaction when she blazed past him and smashed the black ball before he could even swing his own bat. The bludger flew forcefully at Malden and caused him to stop short to avoid getting injured. Belinda was flying too close to him and almost crashed into him. Instead, she swerved and almost crashed into Duncan.
Somehow not a single collision actually happened. Jasper still had the quaffle. He hurtled for the Slytherin hoops and started to aim for one of the hoops, when at the split second he appeared to change his mind. Boris sensed the play a smidge too late and couldn't get his fingers on the ball to stop it from entering the hoop.
Tessa felt glad that both teams were tied, but she knew not to feel too relieved or overly confident. This was a make or break game for Hufflepuff. If Hufflepuff won, then the match in June would be a rematch of this very game. If Hufflepuff lost, there was still a chance of the rematch, depending on how many points were earned, but Tessa had never seen a close final score at any Hogwarts Quidditch match ever and doubted either team would give the other a run for its money points-wise. In other words, Hufflepuff HAD to win.
Boris handed the quaffle to his best friend Mason. Tessa immediately darted away for one of the bludgers with the hopes of causing a turnover. Better to do it quickly while the pack was still near the goal hoops!
More Points Scored
Author: Ellis
Date: 06-30-16 18:48
Mason started forward with the quaffle in hand, only to find his path barred by Duncan and Jasper. He quickly looked around for either Belinda or Malden, but neither was in a good position to accept his pass. Marlow was blocking Belinda, and Malden was on the other side of Duncan and Jasper, who very well mght intercept the quaffle if Mason dared throw it.
Conrad maneuvered into position to cut off one of the bludgers and gave it a good wallop, sending it towards Mason. Asher and Baron both attempted to defend Mason, who still hadn't gotten very far with the quaffle, but Tessa got in the way of Asher, and Baron found himself in cramped quarters, what with everybody packed in together. Conrad's bludger thumped Mason on the shoulder blade and caused him to buckle forward a bit, but he didn't fumble. He did end up losing the ball anyhow when Duncan stretched out his arm and stole it.
Duncan couldn't get around everybody else, so he threw to Marlow. Marlow gave the quaffle a forceful lob at one of the hoops the same time Tessa got a bludger off at Boris. Boris hesitated for a beat before dodging out of the bludger's path, not thinking Marlow would actually score based on her position and the angle of her throw. The quaffle, however, went straight through the hoop without hitting any rim.
"MacDougal scores!" shouted Willow Westwick, the commentator. "Hufflepuff leads, 20-10!"
Conrad raised his bat in the air victoriously and then got down to business again. Boris handed the quaffle to Belinda, who threw long to Mason. This time, Mason broke free quite easily and managed to get a good head start. He got within scoring range before anyone or any bludger could catch up to him and attempted a goal. Glori slapped the ball away with the palm of her hand.
Mason caught the rebound and tried again. This time Glori caught the ball, but when a bludger slammed into her side, she dropped it. Mason scooped it up and scored for Slytherin.
"Jeffers scores!" Willow excitedly shouted. "The match is tied, 20-20!"
Bludger To The Jaw (Duncan)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 06-30-16 19:31
After the score is tied a second time there is a lot of back and forth but no progress for either team. Duncan has just intercepted a pass between Belinda and Mason only to have Asher get him with a bludger. Not just any bludger hit either. Smack in the jaw.
Eyes watering with spots swimming in the tears, fumbling the quaffle Duncan thinks a couple of his teeth feel loose. Unable to regain his grasp on the ball before Malden jerks it from his hand leaves Duncan able to check his mouth for blood. No blood but lots of pain and definitely at least one tooth is wobbly. He'll have to be sure to see Madam Pomfrey for a potion or spell to fix it.
Duncan swipes his eyes with his sleeve, clearing them somewhat then goes after the other chasers. Malden's already handed off to Mason who's just avoided a bludger, from Conrad Duncan thinks. Mason has to immediately swerve to avoid the second bludger, which is followed by Asher who'd tried to get to it before it got to Mason.
Mason passes to Belinda who jets away only to be slowed when Marlow gets directly in front of her. Belinda tries to go around but when that doesn't work she starts to climb with Marlow continue to keep her velocity to a crawl. The Slytherin abruptly dives while pulling right, almost instantly starting to straighten back out. With Marlow no longer directly in front of her Belinda rapidly gains speed.
Duncan attempts to get between Belinda and Malden when it looks as though she's going to pass but instead throws at one of the hoops. Glori wasn't fooled by what might have been a pass so is able to throw herself between the quaffle and hoop in time to block the shot. She full on catches the ball, tossing it back into play with a lob to Duncan.
Jaw still greatly smarting, he finds he has trouble not periodically touching it and he also can't stop tonguing the loose tooth. With the quaffle in hand, he's distracted enough from his jaw and the tooth that he doesn't bother either again until he gets three quarters of the way down the pitch and passes off to Jasper.
Chaser & Seeker
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 07-01-16 15:12
Sophie was having a hard time focusing today. That was because her sister Belinda was playing. She knew Belinda could take care of herself and Sophie had watched the other two matches her sister had played, but it was different now they were both on the pitch. She kept listening to Willow's voice echoing all around the pitch, and she had to fight the temptation to look down, whenever her sister's name was mentioned.
Belinda on another hand was not thinking about Sophie at all. Her mind was on the match and she almost forgot her sister was playing as well. Right now it is Jasper who has the quaffle. He passes it to Marlow. The shot is full of strength, and for a moment it seems like Marlow struggles but her arm firmly goes around the red bell, claiming it. With the quaffle well secured she moves away from the Hufflepuff hoops. A bludger sent by Baron passes a few inches above her head but it wasn't enough to scare Marlow off, who continues her journey.
Duncan makes sign to Marlow, announcing he is free. Belinda notices the red color that is starting to form on his jaw, a result of Asher's bludger. But Duncan doesn't seem to be bothered by it, as he receives the quaffle from Marlow. Malden had tried to intercept the pass but the quaffle flied too fast for his reach. Duncan lead the Hufflepuff's attack, approaching the hoops with ease. Belinda chased him but she was not able to steal him the quaffle since he had it well guarded. Duncan throw the quaffle to Jasper and he tried to score. But Boris made a good defense using his elbow.
Belinda then grabbed the quaffle, before Marlow could get it and try another chance at scoring. She wanted to get away from the area near the hoops but she saw her way blocked by Jasper. She passed the quaffle to Mason who was free. Jasper turned his broom around, and Belinda went ahead and flied next to Mason, on his left. Malden placed himself on his right. It was a move they had been practiced during the practices. While Mason had the quaffle, Belinda and Malden protected his flanks. And once they were flying closer to each other it made Asher and Baron's work easier, because Tessa and Conrad would have a smaller area to aim at, which meant a smaller area for the Slytherin beaters to cover.
It was a good tactic, and they were able to reach the hoops guarded by Glori without Mason losing the quaffle, or anyone got hit by a bludger. The hardest part was now to decide who would score. Glori kept her position at the middle, ready to swing left or right if needed. Belinda and Malden started to move further from Mason in order to get some space. Duncan, Marlow and Jasper were moving to their own positions as well. Mason had to think fast. He decided to pass the quaffle to Malden. Malden simulated a scoring attempt, making Glori dive to the right. He then quickly threw the quaffle to Belinda, and she aimed it to the left hoop.
"McCourt scores! Slytherin leads, 30 to 20!" Willow exclaimed.
Belinda smiled, as Glori passed the quaffle to Duncan.
Sophie heard Willow's voice and she was disappointed to learn that her team was losing thanks to Belinda. She looked down and her eyes met with her sister's. But it only lasted a moment because Belinda turned her back to her, ready to go after the quaffle.
Sophie decided it was time to stop concerning about Belinda and think more on the snitch. She flied around the pitch, her head moving in every direction, including up and down. She kept an eye on Sylvester, a green figure, not far from her. There was a moment when he saw him turning around abruptly and she thought he had seen the snitch, but he was just avoiding a bludger coming from Conrad, who meant to disturb his search. Sophie kept looking for the snitch but there was no sign of the little golden ball. Where was it?
Weary Referee
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 07-01-16 17:13
With a match to oversee today Viktor had done what he knew he shouldn't. He was out until the wee hours on a date. They'd gone to a concert in Galway that hadn't ended until after two in the morning. They'd then gone for a late supper/early breakfast. Viktor ended up not getting home to Hogsmeade until nearly four. Reinforced by a great deal of strong coffee and an energy potion, he is nonetheless bleary eyed and knows he'll crash sometime soon after the match ends, both from lack of sleep and from the energy potion wearing off.
Slytherin currently leads by ten and as yet neither seeker has had a snitch sighting that Viktor knows of. If either has, the spotting of it and the pursuit were on the sly and short lived. Or so he would think that's the case.
Duncan, Jasper, and Marlow are working the quaffle to the Slytherin tended hoops. Reaching that end of the pitch Jasper passes to Marlow who throws to the hoop nearest her, which happens to be the one on Boris's right. Boris rapidly moves for the block, swatting the quaffle with a flattened hand but from the expression that passes over his face something seems to be off.
Duncan has the quaffle now, hurling it the opposite hoop, forcing Boris to dive for it. Again he turns the ball away and again there's that look on his face.
Viktor blows his whistle, halting the match. He flies over to Boris who now appears surprised. Viktor gestures to the hand Boris used both times just now to deflect the ball from the hoops. Boris tells him, "I'm fine. Really."
"Let me see," Viktor insists.
Boris holds out the hand, something visibly off with one finger. Viktor gently checks it then before Boris knows what he's about, Viktor pops the dislocated joint back into place. Boris's face whitens and his eyes bug but then he relaxes a great deal. The finger still aches but nothing like before. Viktor instructs, "Be sure to see Madam Pomfrey after the match," then moving out of the way, blows his whistle for the match to resume.
Hufflepuff tries again for a goal but once more Boris stops the ball. Belinda gets this quaffle this time and hustles away heading for the other end of the pitch, Viktor making a mental reminder to ask his Scholastic Aptitude Test colleagues when next they meet their thoughts on allowing substitutions in Quidditch at this level of play.
(Malden) Foul
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 07-01-16 17:52
The Slytherin chasers worked the quaffle about three quarters of the way down the Pitch before there was an interception. Duncan interrupted a pass between Belinda and Malden and quickly hightailed it away from them. He was assisted by Tessa and Conrad, who simultaneously aimed bludgers at Mason and Belinda.
Malden followed after Duncan and expertly weaved around the various obstacles set in his path. Just when he thought he might catch up to the Hufflepuff chaser, it was his turn to get hampered by a bludger. It forced him to swerve suddenly and lose all the momentum he'd had. Malden scowled and attempted to regain some speed, but the gap between him and Duncan had since widened too much for him to achieve much of anything.
He did his best to reach the others and eventually caught up to them at the Slytherin goal hoops. Duncan no longer had the quaffle. Instead, Marlow had it and was attempting to get it past Boris. He kept knocking it back into the fray, where one of the Hufflepuffs would quickly snatch it back up and attempt another goal.
When Malden neared the group, he and Asher happened to meet eyes. The look on Asher's face was positively deadly, and if Malden didn't know any better, then he was sure to be the target of one of the bludgers, or even the bat, if Asher felt impulsive enough. He briefly entertained the idea of Asher getting ejected from the match for hitting him with his beater's bat but banished the thought just as quickly. Asher was needed, though Malden didn't want to say so aloud.
The dirty look was enough to sour Malden's mood, however. He tried to get in on the action and ended up committing a foul when he yanked on the tail of Marlow's broomstick to nose his way closer to the goals. Coach Krum blew his whistle to signal a timeout, announced the foul, "Blagging!", and allowed Marlow to take a foul shot.
Malden felt even moodier as he hovered off to the side, and he didn't dare look at Asher, who was probably seriously thinking about doing him in with bludger or bat thanks to committing the foul. Marlow sized up Boris and then let the quaffle fly. Boris lunged and got his fingers on the ball. It tipped away from the hoops, and then all hell broke loose when everyone converged on it.
Malden got scratched by the bristles of somebody's broomstick. Jasper got hit in the collar bone by a bludger. Someone accidentally elbowed Belinda sharply in the side and caused her to gasp loudly. Mason and Duncan bumped heads. It was Duncan, though, who grabbed hold of the quaffle, and thanks to Tessa's bludger which clipped Boris in the arm, Duncan scored and tied the match once more.
(Willow) Excited
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 07-01-16 18:13
Willow found the Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin incredibly exciting. It was a very close match and had been at every play. She was especially happy because her own team was playing, but it was all the more exhilarating because Slytherin would most definitely be playing for the Quidditch Cup next month. Like usual when her team played, she felt like she had trouble keeping her tone of voice neutral. None of the professors seated with her seemed to think she was being unbiased though, or someone would have likely said something.
Right now Mason, captain of the Slytherin team, had the quaffle and was flying at a fast clip away from the Slytherin goal hoops.
"Jeffers passes to McCourt. McCourt passes to McGonagall. McGonagall passes back to Jeffers…" Mason lined up for a goal attempt and threw the quaffle with some spin. Glori tried to catch it, but it somehow went by her arms and slammed into her chest. It rebounded and was caught up by Malden, who scored while Glori was still a bit stunned.
"McGonagall scores!" Willow gleefully shouted. "Slytherin is back on top again, leading 40-30!"
Glori retrieved the quaffle and handed it to Marlow. Marlow threw long to Jasper.
"Oooh, that was a close one!" Willow exclaimed, when a bludger nearly got Jasper in the other collar bone. He rolled his shoulder to avoid it, but then something unusual happened.
The black ball got caught in the hood of his uniform when the wind suddenly kicked the hood up and open. Jasper jerked backwards with the pull of the bludger, which was trying to go in the opposite direction he was. Duncan was there in a jiffy to relieve Jasper of the quaffle before one of the Slytherin chasers could. Then Conrad was also there, taking careful aim at Jasper's hood. He hit the ball so that it popped out of the back of the hood and also didn't slam into Jasper's back, neck or head. The bludger emerged at a slight angle and then was intercepted by Tessa.
Willow had never seen anything like it. For a moment, she forgot she was supposed to be commentating. What an exciting game this was!
Last Match Or No?
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 07-01-16 19:29
Forty to thirty. Slytherin's favor. If Sophie gets the snitch before any other goals are made, Jasper won't care that Hufflepuff has one fewer goal than Slytherin. He thinks he'd even be okay with Slytherin making more goals and even getting the snitch as long as Hufflepuff can run up its score as well to ensure the spot opposite Slytherin in the Quidditch Cup match.
As a seventh year and someone who loves to play Quidditch, Jasper wants one more match. One more chance to play for his house while at Hogwarts. There will be games for fun between now and end of term but those aren't the same; plus, with NEWTs Jasper won't have as much time for that sort of thing. He'll take time, of course, as he'd go barmy doing nothing but studying and the exams.
At the moment Malden has the quaffle, hemmed in on one side by Jasper and Duncan on the other. A bludger from Baron has Duncan falling back, Belinda scooting in where Duncan had been. Asher sends a bludger at Jasper but Tessa intercepts. She directs it at Malden only to have him pass to Mason before the bludger reaches him.
Jasper picks up speed, catching up with Mason. When Mason passes the quaffle, Jasper is able to thrust himself between the ball and Belinda, a not so easy catch because his position isn't quite right and he has to stretch for it.
No sooner does he have to firmly in his grasp than a bludger hits him square between the shoulder blades. The force shoves him, and his broom, forward, but Jasper's hold on the quaffle doesn't loosen. He continues moving then seeing Marlow is open he throws a forward pass.
Turnabout is fair play or so he's heard much of his life. This is one of those turnabout moments. Belinda intercepts the pass, taking the action away from one set of hoops and back towards the other.
Marlow makes a face as she makes a sharp turn. She ducks a bludger that comes at her from just ahead and to the side then watches as Conrad sends the other bludger after Belinda. The bludger connects with Belinda's upper arm but by then Belinda's holding the quaffle with her other hand. Malden zips closely by Belinda who hands him the red ball as he whizzes by.
Marlow swerves around Sylvestor, so intent in his hunt for the quaffle that he hadn't noticed he was flying right into the midst of the chaser action. She accelerates but is just far enough behind Malden that he's put the quaffle in the air with a throw straight at the center hoop.
Glori pops the ball back with a fist. Duncan and Belinda both gets hands on the quaffle with Belinda wresting it away with a jerk. She aims for the farther hoop from her position but Glori's able to use her broom tail to give the quaffle a solid swat away from the hoop.
Marlow throws herself at the quaffle, reaching it a blink before Malden. She maneuvers around, throwing the quaffle to Duncan in the process. For who knows how many times this match already, they start back the other direction, Hufflepuff once more in possession and Slytherin working hard to change that.
Baron's Bludgers & Glori's Hoops
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 07-02-16 17:27
After yet another change in possession Belinda has the quaffle, driving in towards Glori. Much as Baron hates targeting his cousin he doesn't hesitate to assist his teammate. The bludger he sends misses Glori, hits the rim of a hoop, and ricochets back, catching her arm from behind as she's in the process of batting the quaffle. The force of the hit ends up aiding Glori in sending the quaffle away from her and the hoops. Baron is not pleased but there's not much he can do about it now; plus, a ricochet like that isn't something that can be anticipated.
There's a tussle over the quaffle. Before that's resolved he goes in pursuit of that same bludger only to have to wait out Conrad. The Hufflepuff sends the hard black ball Mason's way. Mason was victorious in that scrabble for the quaffle and is now setting up for another goal attempt.
Baron goes after the bludger but finds himself in close quarters with both Jasper and Malden. Makes little difference as it turns out because Mason's let the quaffle fly just before the bludger reaches him. Would have been nice to keep him from being hit even if there wasn't interference with his throw but again, nothing to be done about that now.
Glori is successful at stopping Mason from making the goal. Marlow ends up with the quaffle and this time Baron is able to get to the bludger. The hit connects with Marlow on the upper part of her left shoulder. She doesn't drop the quaffle but does pass to Duncan. Belinda sneaks in for the steal, catching the quaffle mid-flight between Marlow and Duncan.
Belinda starts back for Glori and her hoops, narrowly dodging a bludger from Tessa. Asher moves in to get that same bludger, targeting Duncan as the Hufflepuff flies in close to Belinda.
Belinda still has the red ball when again reaching the end of the pitch. She throws with Jasper making a grab for the quaffle. His effort causes the quaffle to have a wobble as it sails towards one of the hoops.
Glori has no trouble getting in front of the quaffle. She's confident about having the block only to be blindsided by a hard hit from Asher. From what she's observed this match Asher seems to have an anger issue. That issue has translated into his hits being harder, or that's how it feels to her anyway.
Glori ends not missing the block because of Asher's bludger. The quaffle gets by her and to her chagrin Slytherin now has 50 points to Hufflepuff's 30. She hands the red ball to Jasper, saying to him under her breath, "We HAVE to score more goals or somehow ensure Sophie captures the snitch."
Jasper frowns, whispering back, "I know, I know."
For the time being there's nothing more Glori can do other than watch as Jasper, Marlow, and Duncan move the quaffle down field from her while she silently vows to endure broken bones before she'll let another Slytherin goal attempt get past her this match.
Splat (Sylvestor)
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 07-02-16 20:51
Not a single snitch sighting, at least for Sylvestor. If Sophie has seen it since the winged ball was released at the start of the match Sylvestor wasn't aware. As far as he knows she's not seen it either.
For the second or third time Sylvestor inadvertently drifts into the same general space currently occupied by several of the chasers. He thought he'd been flying a straight line and he supposes he was more or less just at a gradual angle. He veers about Malden then has to continue swerving to avoid Duncan.
A bludger is coming right at him. Sylvestor doesn't think it's meant for him and even if it is he's not going to let that ball hit him. He flies off to one side, pulling into a climb at the same time. Leveling off, he spots it. The snitch.
Sylvestor keeps his speed steady, not keeping his eyes off the ball, which is holding in a hover. Willow hasn't noticed yet so she's doing play by play of the chasers and beaters. He only half listens. MacDougal passes to Dippet. Interception by Jeffers! Jeffers hands off to McCourt. That bludger's from Ellis.
As he nears the hovering snitch Belinda is throwing for a goal but Glori stops it. The quaffle is back in Hufflepuff's hands, Jasper sprinting down the pitch with it. About that same time Willow alerts the stadium that Sylvestor has spotted the snitch. This news has Sophie converging on Sylvestor and the snitch at high speed.
The snitch moves as if startled. It takes off on a loopy course, Sophie and Sylvestor giving chase. He's so busy watching the ball and trying to pay attention to where exactly Sophie is that he doesn't notice they're nearing a set of stands. He increases his speed his speed a little, closing the gap between the snitch and him.
Sylvestor puts his arm out for the snitch, fingers stretching, trying to outreach Sophie. Next thing he knows Sylvestor is splatting into the side of the stands. Desperately hanging onto his broom with one hand while simultaneously sliding down the face of the stand. The broom slows him before he hits the ground and only then does he realize his other hand is closed around the snitch.
He gets stabilized then opens his hand to reveal the winged ball nestled there. Slytherin wins the match 200 to 30!
On the ground, Sylvestor stiffly dismounts. He's hurting from that splat but he knows it's nothing compared to how he'll feel later. Hopefully, Madam Pomfrey will have something to keep the worst of it at bay. That will have to wait a little while though as now, as the rest of the Slytherin team swarms around him, it's time to celebrate.