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(Oliver) First Quidditch Match
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 11-29-17 17:57
Oliver was nervous. It was his first ever Quidditch match, and he was afraid that he would screw things up for Gryffindor. His role was important: he was the team's Keeper, and it was his job to make sure Slytherin didn't get the quaffle past him. Oliver knew that he would have to defend the Gryffindor goals often, and that he would more than likely be the target of many bludgers.
Practices had gone well, but practice was nothing compared to playing in a real match in front of a crowd. When the announcer called out the names of the Gryffindor team, Oliver felt his stomach drop when he caught sight of the bleachers, which were filled up from top to bottom with spectators. He realized just how on the spot he was in that moment.
Oliver flew over to the Gryffindor goal hoops, while Mildred Campbell and Malden McGonagall touched down at center field and shook hands while Professor Krum gave a quick speech about good sportsmanship. Then, the two captains were in the air again, and the balls were released one by one.
Oliver let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding when his own teammate, Gerry Martini-Blackwell, grabbed the quaffle first. Gerry pulled the red ball close to his body and charged through the fray of players, putting a short amount of distance between them and himself, but his lead didn't last very long. Tiny Charlotte Stratford was quick and caught up to him. Belinda McCourt was third fastest, but neither girl was able to distract Gerry.
It took Asher Kent aiming a bludger at the Gryffindor chaser for him to throw the ball to teammate Finley Pride, but Finley's catch wasn't terribly good. The ball bounced from hand to hand and then was scooped up by Malden, who turned his broomstick around abruptly and made a beeline for Oliver.
Oliver felt his adrenalin start pumping. He stared at Malden, whose eyes were like daggers, and had the distinct feeling that he would get mowed over and knocked off of his broom. Oliver pictured himself getting taken out of the match in just the first few minutes. If it happened, he'd never be able to live it down.
Malden came at him hard and fast and let the quaffle fly. Oliver dove for the red ball with both arms outstretched and let out a grunt when it struck his forearms. The quaffle ricocheted to Malden, who had to adjust his throw when Belinda called out to him that he was about to get hit by a bludger. The throw was not the best, and Oliver was able to catch the quaffle outright. He handed it off to teammate Mildred and silently willed her to make it far away from the Gryffindor goals.
New Slytherin Beater (Doug)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 11-30-17 18:32
Douglas feels energized. His first house match. First house match of the year. In the stands are parents, younger siblings, older sibling probably with a group of Hufflepuffs, grandparents, cousin Grace, like a cousin Caerwyn, Aunt Briar, even "Uncle" Julian and the twins. He's sure Julian is here more for Charlotte Statford than for him but that's okay. He's known Charlotte for years and years. She's mostly okay. For a girl anyway. Sort of like Grace.
Doug reaches one of the bludgers, double checking who currently has the quaffle. That would be Gerry Martini-Blackwell, who'd just taken a pass from Mildred Campbell. Doug sends the bludger to a point where he hopes Gerry will soon be. During for fun games and even from spectators at practice he's heard others questioning why a beater didn't send the bludger straight at a chaser or wondering why what seems at first to be a dead on hit only grazes the target. Those people have never played beater in any sort of game. Chasers are almost always in motion. Sending a bludger to where the chaser is when the bludger is hit would almost certainly mean entirely missing the chaser because he or she has rapidly changed position. Even keepers aren't as easy as they would seem because they too move, only with them they can be completely still only to swiftly move in less than a blink of an eye.
This time Doug doesn't have to worry about whether he timed his hit correctly or not. Achilles Sims intercepts the black ball and sends it on a straight line path for Belinda McCourt who's in between Gerry and Finley, preventing Gerry from throwing to Finley, who is in a good position for a goal attempt.
Doug dodges around Sylvestor Trainor, who's so intent on searching for the snitch Doug doubts he even noticed how closely they flew to each other. He's after the second bludger but slows his pursuit when he sees Asher is both after it as well and much closer. Doug sharply curves around to go after the first bludger, reaching it a split second before Gideon Weasley.
He wallops the bludger hard enough that Gideon will have to work to pursue it and reach it before the bludger gets to Finley. The bludger misses but having seen it coming Finley flinches, causing her to fumble catching the quaffle that Gerry finally was able to get to her. Charlotte darts in for the steal, Doug already hurrying after that same bludger, hoping to help Charlotte gain ground toward Gryffindor keeper Oliver Towneley. How awesome would it be if Slytherin got the first goal of the first match?
(Charlotte) Tricking
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 12-01-17 17:27
Charlotte felt the corners of her lips quirk into a grin after she successfully stole the quaffle from Finley. The older Gryffindor girl had been in a prime position to score, so not only did Charlotte feel good about her steal, she also felt good about preventing Gryffindor from potentially scoring.
She darted away, using her small size and speed to slalom through the obstacles placed in her path. Charlotte had never been a real Quidditch fanatic, but she'd gone to enough games to watch Caerwyn play when he'd been at Hogwarts to have an appreciation for the game and to know the rules of the sport.
Charlotte had also seen a variety of plays that allowed someone to come out on top. She liked the idea of tricking to win. She also liked being fast and aggressive. Charlotte had an excellent memory and wanted to use as many of the different plays she'd witnessed over the years.
She used one now, pretending to hand off the quaffle to Belinda, when really she still had it in her possession. Belinda, holding her arm as if she were carrying the red ball, raced towards the Gryffindor goal hoops. Oliver started to zero in on Belinda's approach.
That was good for Charlotte, because she didn't do anything to give herself away. She looked as if she might be protecting Belinda's side by flanking her, but she didn't make herself seem like she was open to accept a pass and she didn't harass any of the other players.
The gig was up when Achilles tried to hit Belinda with a bludger. She dodged it just fine, but her sudden movement revealed the fact that she didn't have possession of the quaffle at all. There was a brief scramble to find out who did, but everyone soon figured out that Charlotte had never given up the ball.
Fortunately, the revelation came too late for the Gryffindors. Charlotte set her sights on one of the goals and threw the ball right at it. The quaffle sailed straight through the hoop without touching any rim.
A wicked grin spread over Charlotte's lips. She'd scored in her very first match, and she'd scored before anyone else. Not bad for a rookie player!
She quickly turned her head to look for her family. Everybody was there, including her dad, Astrid, Dylan and August. She was excited that they had seen her do something amazing and hoped that things would keep looking up for her and the Slytherin Quidditch team.
(Belinda) Advantage
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 12-02-17 07:03
Belinda flew in Charlotte's direction and they knuckle touch in celebration. Charlotte had just scored the first goal of the match and now Slytherin was winning Gryffindor by ten points. Two years ago, Belinda had been the only girl in the Slytherin Quidditch team. Charlotte's presence made things even funnier than before. The act of the fake bludger had been a great move played between the two girls.
The match proceeded. Oliver Towneley passed the quaffle to Gerry Martini-Blackwell and he flew away from the Gryffindor's hoops. Mildred Campbell and Finley Pride were close to Gerry, forming a protective barrier. That made the Slytherin's chasers task of stealing the quaffle much harder. Belinda looked at her team captain Malden, awaiting instructions. Malden pointed to himself, Charlotte and Belinda and then at Finley. He then called out for Asher and Doulgas and pointed at Mildred Campbell. The strategy was to go after Finley while the beaters did the same with the Gryffindor captain. Then it would be only Gerry with the quaffle, making things easier for Maurice if he tried to score.
Belinda started to chase Finley, and so did Malden and Charlotte. Finding herself circled by a mass of green, the Gryffindor chaser slowed down. Mildred also stopped accompanying Gerry in his move, because she was forced to dodge a bludger sent by Asher. As soon as Gerry found himself alone, Malden left Finley and went after him. Gerry was able to avoid Malden by passing the quaffle to Mildred. Mildred covered some distance, but Charlotte put on some pressure on her left flank. The Gryffindor chaser throw the quaffle to Finley but Belinda was faster and caught it in the air. She turned her broomstick around, back to Gryffindor's side of the pitch. A bludger came in her direction, but Douglas got ahead and deviated it from Belinda's path. She kept speeding up, her eyes on Oliver's hoops, focused.
She lost her concentration when Gerry bumped against her right side. She lost her equilibrium and the quaffle's grip. She dropped the red ball, as she was trying to regain her balance. Gerry went for it and so did Charlotte. It was the Slytherin's chaser who won the duel. The quaffle was safe with Charlotte, and she continued the path to Oliver's hoops. Belinda and Malden followed her. Charlotte was closer to Oliver but instead of scoring she threw the quaffle at Malden. Malden then passed it to Belinda, and she again to Malden. The three chasers swapped the quaffle a few times to confuse the Gryffindor keeper, and keeping the other team's chasers from stealing the quaffle.
Belinda then decided to take a chance and she shot aiming at the left hoop. Oliver managed to touch the quaffle with his fingertips, but it was too late. Belinda had scored.
Slytherin was now winning 20 to nothing.
No Weasley Triple Threat (Gideon)
Author: Blossom
Date: 12-02-17 10:32
Down by twenty but nowhere near out. Out for a team isn't until the snitch is caught or, in some cases, when the other team has made so many goals that even catching the snitch doesn't mean victory. Down by twenty but for the moment Gideon isn't overly concerned.
Catching sight of Seth in the stands, Gideon wishes yet again that they were in the same house, even if that meant he was Sorted into Ravenclaw rather than Gryffindor. Two Weasleys on the same team just like when Dad and Uncle George were students. The difference is that Seth made chaser, not beater. Still, would be great if they were on the same team. When Larkin points out that if Seth and he were in the same house, they might not both have made the team.
Gideon ducks a bludger, wondering if Fabian and Freddie will make the same house and both try out for whatever house team it is, and then both make it. Will they both be beaters like the last Weasley twins who play at Hogwarts? How great would it be if Seth were in the same house and Larkin and he both tried out with Gideon and all three made it. Weasley triplets on the same team. A Weasley triple threat. How excellent would that be?
Coming up on the very bludger he just ducked, wondering why it was sent his way at all, unless someone had a bad hit, Gideon gives the ball a mighty thwack with his bat. He then trails after the bludger as it flies on a course to intercept the Slytherin team captain Malden.
It thumps Malden on the leg but not enough of a hit to deter Malden's efforts to steal the quaffle from the other team captain in the match, Mildred. She avoids Malden's outstretched hands, able to get a nice pass off to Finley. Finley, in turn, throws to Gerry who drives in towards Slytherin keeper Maurice.
Maurice, with an assist of a bludger from Ash, knocks back the quaffle when Gerry throws. Mildred and Belinda scrapple for the rebound with Mildred winning possession. She throws for goal before Belinda is able to do anything to screw up Mildred's throw. This time with an assist from a bludger from Gideon, Maurice is not able to block the shot.
Gryffindor scores! With a score now of Slytherin 20, Gryffindor 10, the quaffle returns to Slytherin possession. Gideon hopes to help his teammates regain the quaffle as quickly as possible.
(Asher) Wanting to Win
Author: Jolyon
Date: 12-03-17 07:14
Asher scowled when Mildred got the quaffle past Maurice. He'd have enjoyed it very much if Slytherin won the match without Gryffindor earning any points. He knew all that really mattered was that Slytherin won in the end, though.
Maurice handed the quaffle to Belinda. Asher immediately set his sights on a bludger and darted towards it, noting out of the corner of his eye that he wasn't alone in tracking it. He reached it just before Achilles did and swung his bat hard and wide, causing the Gryffindor beater to flinch a little bit. Asher had known that he wouldn't hit Achilles, but it was funny to make it seem as if he might.
The bludger sailed in the direction of Gerry, who was trying to steal the quaffle from Belinda. Belinda saw an opening and passed to Charlotte. Gideon, meanwhile, intercepted the bludger meant for Gerry and redirected it at Charlotte's back. Doug swooped in to knock it away from her, though she was flying much faster than it was and seemed unlikely to get hit by it.
Working as a team, Asher hit the same bludger back at Douglas, who used tried to distract Oliver with it when Charlotte attempted a goal. Oliver dodged the ball and still managed to get his hand on the quaffle, knocking it back into Charlotte's arms. She started to aim for another goal hoop, when she felt Malden's presence next to her. She threw the quaffle at him instead, and then Malden scored before Oliver realized what had even happened.
Oliver, frowning, handed the red ball to Mildred. Asher and Doug both aimed bludgers at her, hoping to stop her from leaving the Gryffindor hoops, but Achilles and Gideon each managed to deflect the black balls, giving Mildred a chance to break free and make a mad dash across the Pitch.
First Match as Captain
Author: Mildred
Date: 12-03-17 07:33
Thanks to Gideon's help, Mildred was able to score for Gryffindor, reducing Slytherin's advantage. This year she was Gryffindor's Quidditch team captain. Gryffindor hadn't won any Quidditch or House cup since Mildred attended Hogwarts. This was her very last school year and she didn't want to leave the school without seeing the Great Hall decorated with Gryffindor's colors, red and gold.
However, things changed once again when Malden made Slytherin's third goal. Now Mildred had the quaffle again, making her way to the Slytherin's hoops. She gained some altitude, trying to get away from Malden who was in her pursuit. Gerry advanced as well, to support her. Mildred passed the quaffle to Gerry, Gerry to Mildred and Mildred handed it to Finley.
The Gryffindor chasers kept doing short quaffle passes between the three, not able to progress much towards the Slytherin hoops, after a certain point. Charlotte had placed herself near Mildred, the contrast between their sizes being quite obvious, due to their age difference. Gerry threw the quaffle ahead, as Malden was pestering him, trying to steal it.
Charlotte and Mildred attempted to reach the red ball but it was Finley who got there first. Belinda had been left behind, because a bludger from Achilles had hit her shoulder.
Finley speeded up towards Maurice's hoops. Gerry advanced as well, no longer interested in Malden. Then there was a moment when everyone froze making room for Leo and Sylvestor who seemed to be caught in a snitch pursuit. Once the seekers were gone, the chasers continued their work. Finley passed the quaffle back at Mildred. She was closer to Maurice's hoops and she simulated a throw to the right. Maurice believed her and dived to the right. Mildred handed the quaffle back to Finley who scored, the red ball passing over the left hoop.
Slytherin's advantage had been reduced once again.
Moving Things Along
Author: Finley
Date: 12-03-17 09:31
After Finley scored, Maurice put the quaffle back into play via Malden. Malden got half way down the Pitch before a bludger dislodged the quaffle from his arm, causing it to pop free. Mildred was there in an instant to scoop up the ball. She turned around abruptly and took off.
Finley quickly pulled along one side of Mildred, while Gerry took position on Mildred's other side. The three Gryffindor chasers zoomed for the Slytherin goals. When Asher aimed a bludger in their direction, Finley deliberately threw herself in front of Mildred. The bludger caught Finley in the arm.
Mildred threw the quaffle at Gerry, who managed to catch it despite Charlotte getting her fingers on the ball. Gerry pulled the ball close to his side to avoid Charlotte again attempting to lift it, but he soon noticed a bludger hurdling his way and threw the ball back to Mildred. Mildred tossed it to Finley, whose left arm was throbbing from the earlier bludger hit.
Finley raced for the goals and threw the quaffle at the left-most hoop. Maurice used the palm of his hand to slap the ball away from the hoop. Finley scooped up the quaffle again and this time aimed for the right-most hoop. A bludger struck her from behind a second after the ball left her hand. The force pushed her into Maurice, who was starting to dive for the quaffle. They were a jumble of legs, arms, and broomsticks, and because of the unexpected collision, Maurice couldn't stop the ball.
"Pride scores!" shouted the announcer. "The score is now tied 30-30!"
Finley untangled herself from Maurice. He was grinning as if he liked the fact that she'd been all over him, even though she'd accidentally prevented him from stopping her goal.
Maurice, smirking, put the quaffle back into play via Charlotte. Finley, now feeling pain in her arm and back, pushed all thoughts from her mind except the pursuit of the quaffle.
Much Better
Author: Gerry
Date: 12-03-17 11:52
Gerry felt relief wash over him after Finley scored, tying the match. Gryffindor had been down since the very first goal, and it was nice to see things even up, though it would be even better if Gryffindor surpassed Slytherin in points.
He chased after Charlotte, who lofted the ball to Belinda. Belinda tossed it to Malden, who lobbed it back to Charlotte, and so on. The Slytherin chasers made quick work of moving the quaffle down the Pitch, where Oliver awaited them. He deflected Malden's goal attempt, and then caught the ball squarely in his arms when Belinda attempted a goal.
Looking rather relieved himself to not let Slytherin score again, at least in that moment, Oliver passed the ball to Gerry. Gerry raced away, trying to put as much distance between himself and Oliver as possible. He didn't want to give Slytherin an easy opportunity to attempt another goal.
Mildred pulled ahead of him and indicated that she was open to accept a pass. Gerry started to throw to her, but he caught sight of a bludger headed her way and threw to Finley instead. Instead held onto the ball for a few seconds and then passed the ball to Mildred, when the threat of the bludger had passed.
Mildred got within scoring range and let the quaffle fly. It hit the rim of the middle hoop and bounced back into her arms. She tried again, but Maurice used his fist to knock the ball back. This time Finley scooped it up. She started to throw it at one of the hoops, but at the last minute threw to Mildred, who threw overhand to Gerry. In the blink of an eye and to Maurice's astonishment, Gerry scored.
"Martini-Blackwell scores!" shouted the announcer. "For the first time in the match, Gryffindor leads, 40-30!"
(Malden) Improvements
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 12-03-17 13:53
Malden accepted the quaffle from Maurice and flew toward the opposite end of the Pitch. Things had been going well for Slytherin for much of the game, but now they were trailing by ten points. Malden fully-intended on fixing the problem.
He rolled his shoulder to avoid getting hit by a bludger and then handed the quaffle to Belinda. She threw long to Charlotte, but the ball went a bit too far. Charlotte dove to get it and nearly collided into Mildred, who was also trying to get her hands on the quaffle.
Finley swept in from out of nowhere to get the quaffle before it hit the ground, but Charlotte tugged the ball from her hands and then handed it to Belinda, who darted past with her arm outstretched. Belinda threw the ball to Malden, who fired the quaffle at the middle hoop.
Oliver threw himself in front of the hoop. The quaffle bounced off his chest and went back into Malden's arms. A bludger struck him in the shoulder just then, causing his grip to loosen. Finley grabbed for the quaffle, but Malden turned away. Luckily, Belinda was on his other side and not one of the other Gryffindor chasers. Belinda took the ball from Malden and attempted a goal.
Oliver hit the ball away with the flat of his hand. Malden caught the rebound and took a chance, even though Oliver was in a prime position to stop the ball. Fortunately, one of the Slytherin beaters got a bludger off at Oliver. Oliver instinctively moved away, allowing Malden's throw to be successful.
The match was once again tied.
Third Time Is Not The Charm
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 12-03-17 14:03
Sylvestor's lips pulled into a frown when Gryffindor tied the score. The frown became a scowl a short time later when Gryffindor took the lead. The scowl lessened when Slytherin makes it a tied match again. In the minutes since neither team has made much headway towards scoring again.
So far, he's seen the snitch twice. The first time was when it was released at the start of the match. The second time it was hovering halfway down one set of stands. He'd started for it as sneakily as he could, hoping to get right up on it before Gryffindor seeker Leo realized what was happening. Sylvestor hadn't even covered a quarter of the distance when Charlotte and Finley had blazed past him, one with the quaffle and the other trying to get it. Them passing in front of him is all it took for him to lose sight of the snitch for all of a blink. Frustrated, he'd on to where it had been but if it still was anywhere in the vicinity he couldn't find it.
Reaching the end of the pitch, Sylvester banks into a slow, gentle turn taking him behind the hoops where first time on the Slytherin team Maurice is intently watching the six chasers, keeping tabs on who has the quaffle.
Something small flies right at his face. Startled, Sylvestor reacts almost as if a bludger is coming straight at him, a broken nose inevitable despite knowing whatever it was hadn't been black or ball sized. Thinking it's a large bug, he puts his hand up to brush the side of his head in case it's still there.
What he touches doesn't feel like any bug he can think of. His hand spasmodically crabs, just as it sinks into his head that the it is the snitch. Purposely grasping for it now, his head whipping around to verify that yes, for the third time he's seeing the snitch, Sylvestor lets out a groan when he sees the snitch now too far from his head to easily grasp. It's also at an angle that requires him to twist awkwardly on his broom while leaning and reaching far. Then he pulls his broom around sharply only to have the snitch dart away.
He gives chase with Leo soon right beside him.
And then, in another blink, the snitch is gone again.
Sylvestor looks to Leo thinking the other seeker had somehow grabbed the winged ball without him seeing but Leo shakes his head and shrugs. Sylvestor groans again, pulling away from Leo to resume what is starting to feel like a fruitless effort.
Foul
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 12-03-17 17:47
Viktor blows his whistle when Malden bumps into Gerry hard enough to throw her off balance. It was clearly an accident on Malden's part, at least from Viktor's point of view, but it's nevertheless a foul. As Gerry already has the quaffle it's a simple matter of having the players get into position for Gerry's foul shot.
Gerry's throw is excellent but Maurice is still able to easily deflect the quaffle. There is a scramble as the chasers converge after the red ball, Viktor watching closely for another foul or fouls.
Charlotte comes away with quaffle in hand but before she's able to secure her hold, Finley's popped it from her grasp. Finley immediately throws back toward the hoops but once again Maurice is able to knock back the quaffle.
Once again a Slytherin chaser takes possession, but this time it's Malden not Charlotte. He takes off, Mildred closely behind. Viktor also directs his broom down the pitch, glancing at one set of stands as he does. He gets a brief glimpse of a miserable looking Marjani. She'd been going to assist as a referee today but wasn't feeling well when she got up this morning. When she showed up anyway this morning he tried to convince her to go home but she insisted on staying in case he did end up needing another referee.
A bludger from Gideon manages to catch the quaffle mid-pass, knocking it out of bounds. Viktor blows his whistle to halt the action long enough for him to bring the quaffle back into the field of play, handing it off to Malden who'd been the one passing to Belinda when the quaffle took its little Gideon assisted side trip.
The Catch (Leo)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 12-03-17 18:47
Leo isn't sure how long it is from the time the quaffle went out of bounds until another goal was scored. Felt like an hour, maybe two, but was probably more like twenty minutes, give or take. Normally, time during a match goes by fair quickly, even when he's not had any snitch sightings, but today he's somewhat stuffed up. It's to the point Leo can't keep his mind from drifting to thoughts of something hot to drink and crawling into bed.
When the next goal is scored, Mildred has intercepted a pass between Belinda and Charlotte. Mildred then passes long to Finley who is close enough to Maurice and the hoops he guards to immediately drive in for a scoring attempt. The turn around in possession along with the goal attempt came so fast that though Maurice had been alert, he wasn't quite ready for the quaffle to come zipping towards him.
He has a look of surprise when the announcement comes, "Pride scores for Gryffindor! Gryffindor now leads Slytherin 50 to 40!"
Leo gives a whoop but it cuts off when he spies the snitch. Leaning over his broom he accelerates towards it, determined not to lose sight of it. He gains on the tiny ball, aware now that Sylvestor is just off to his side, also low over his own broom. Both Sylvestor and Leo stretch out an arm, reaching for the snitch.
Leo gives another whoop when his hand closes over something solid. Again the whoop cuts off, changing to a sorrowful sigh as he lets go of not the snitch but Sylvestor's hand. Sylvestor's hand that's closed over the snitch.
Congratulating Sylvestor, Leo heads for the ground as the announcer proclaims, "Trainor has the snitch! Slytherin wins 190 to 50!"
With the adrenaline of the match rapidly wearing off, Leo bypasses the locker room to dejectedly return to Gryffindor House and his dorm where, still in his quidditch gear, he climbs into his bed, pulls the curtains around it, and wishes his head didn't seem so clogged that it feels as though it's about to explode.