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Stratfords in the Match
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 02-23-18 14:45
Noah noticed that Charlotte was again all over Seth and realized he needed to do something about it fast. Charlotte was not above playing tricks to get what she wanted, and he had no doubt that she would get the quaffle away from Seth sooner or later. He spotted Douglas directing a bludger at Paton, who was in an open position to receive the quaffle should Seth decide to throw it his way. Noah made quick work of getting in between the black ball and Paton and then redirected the bludger so that Charlotte had no choice but to peel away from Seth all over again.
Seth used the opportunity to pass the quaffle to Paton, who threw it long to Franciscus. Franciscus quickly attempted a goal, but the ball hit the rim of one of the hoops and bounced back into the fray, where it was caught by Belinda. Belinda immediately spun her broomstick around and shot away from the Slytherin goal hoops.
Noah changed tactics. He saw Kurt maneuvering into position to receive one of the two bludgers. Kurt made eye contact with Noah and whacked the black ball right at him. Noah was in a better position to do damage to Belinda, and he tried his very best to hit her when he knocked the ball further along in her direction.
Asher was on the spot to protect Belinda, though, and he used the same bludger to target Franciscus. The ball didn't hit the Ravenclaw team co-captain, but it definitely slowed him down and gave Belidna the chance to pass the ball to Charlotte. Charlotte received the ball cleanly and tucked it close against her body.
She made herself even smaller than she already was and shot through the frigid air, drawing ever closer to the Ravenclaw hoops where Belinda's sister Eileen was waiting. Charlotte barrel-rolled to avoid a head-on collision with Seth, when he deliberately cut into her flight path. In the middle of the roll, she let the quaffle sail toward Malden's arms.
Malden almost fumbled the ball, but he secured his hold before it could fall or be stolen away, and he darted off, narrowing the distance between himself and the Ravenclaw goals. He came at them at an arc and threw the ball with a bit of spin, but Eileen was quick and talented enough to knock the ball away from the intended hoop.
Charlotte and Seth wrestled for the rebound, but it was Seth who got a better hold on it. He turned to go, but got clipped in the arm by Asher's bludger. Charlotte yanked the quaffle from his loosened grip and threw it hard at the nearest goal, but Eileen was in the way once more. The red ball bounced off her chest and landed in Charlotte's arms again.
This time Douglas was there to aim a bludger at Eileen. Charlotte quickly set up a shot, which sailed neatly through the hoop when Eileen at the last minute drew back to avoid getting hit by the bludger.
"Stratford––that's Charlotte Stratford of Slytherin––scores the first ten points of the match!" shouted the Quidditch commentator.
Chasers Paton and Franciscus
Author: Griet
Date: 02-24-18 12:30
After Charlotte's goal, Eileen handed the quaffle to Paton. He quickly found himself hemmed in by the Slytherin chasers, who did not want the red ball leaving its current proximity to the Ravenclaw hoops. Fortunately, the three Slytherin chasers served as a shield against enemy bludgers. Paton bided his time while simultaneously eyeballing the positions of Franciscus and Seth and then broke through an opening that appeared when Kurt aimed a bludger in between Belinda and Malden.
The first snowflakes of the day started to fall as Paton made his trek across the Pitch. Except for it being bitterly cold, the day was otherwise fairly pleasant. He had on a few layers underneath his uniform, which made the February chill less noticeable.
When Asher tried to unseat him with a bludger from behind, which Paton only knew about because Franciscus called out a warning to him, he did two things: First, he swerved in the direction Franciscus told him to go, still blind to the approaching bludger. Then, he shot the quaffle at Seth, who had caught up to him. Seth caught the ball neatly and urged his broomstick to go even faster.
Paton lost a bit of speed from swerving to avoid Asher's bludger, but he hurried to catch up to Seth and to Franciscus, who had also passed him. Kurt, meanwhile, used the bludger meant for Paton against Belinda, while Noah utilized the other one to stop Charlotte from also catching up to Seth. Being the only Slytherin chaser untargeted at the moment, Malden shot ahead and managed to thwart Seth's goal attempt by putting his arm in the way of the shot.
The quaffle bounced off the back of Malden's arm, but he and Seth both tried to get it, Seth having an easier time of it because of his position. Seth started to aim for another hoop, but then he threw the ball to Paton. Paton also started to shoot, but Maurice was staring at him so intently that Paton threw to Franciscus again, who rapidly fired at the right-most hoop. Maurice made quick work of reaching for the red ball, but he was a hair too slow.
"Vanderbilt scores! The match is tied 10-10!" shouted the announcer.
Maurice, scowling, retrieved the quaffle and passed it to Belinda. She was fast and got well out of range of the Slytherin goals before giving up the quaffle to Charlotte. Charlotte threw to Malden, but Franciscus dove between them to intercept the quaffle. He started for the Slytherin hoops again, but a bludger smacked him hard in the hand holding the quaffle. The red ball fell from his grasp.
Franciscus, wincing, dove for the red ball with the five other chasers, but with his hand throbbing so terribly and his fingers feeling temporarily numb, he couldn't get a good grasp on it. Charlotte, Malden, Seth, and Paton all wrestled with the ball, and then it was Malden who yanked it free from everybody and started to accelerate and gain altitude.
Noah aimed a bludger at him, but Malden dipped his shoulder and barely avoided getting hit. The other chasers, Franciscus included, converged on Malden. Charlotte and Belinda indicated they were open to receive a pass. Franciscus wasn't sure he could intercept just yet because his hand still felt useless, but he could definitely disrupt a pass if he needed to. He threw his body in between Malden and Charlotte when Malden let the red ball loose, and though Franciscus attempted to catch the quaffle, the ball bounced off his injured palm and went into free fall all over again.
Not Ready For The Match To End (Doug)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 02-24-18 18:33
Coming up on a bludger Douglas hesitates in smashing it with his bat because he yawns so widely his eyes are scrunched up, making it hard to see. Doug isn't sleepy or even a little tired. Something about rushing through this cold air has him giving this massive yawns. It's beyond annoying.
The delay in hitting turns out to be a good thing. His target - Paton Shrewsbury - has altered course just enough to be in a better intercept path for the bludger. Doug silently thanks Paton for making his job a little easier. His mum tells him he's not appreciative enough of others. If she only knew just how much he can be.
The bludger connects with Paton but the Ravenclaw saw it coming in the nick as was able to avoid the worst of it. Doug scowls but not for long. He's after that same bludger even though he has not yet selected a vict... erm... target. He's nearing the black ball when he notices that Bran Hyland seems intent on something. As that something could likely be the snitch, Doug doesn't hesitate in sending the bludger Bran's way. He smiles, though not as broadly as some of these blasted yawns, when the unsuspecting Bran takes the bludger in the shoulder, his body curling over his broom stick from the blow.
Rubbing his shoulder, Bran looks about, not for who hit him but for whatever it was he'd been focused on before the bludger. This sort of confirms for Doug that Bran had indeed spotted the snitch. Good thing he caught Bran in the process of maybe ending the match. Not only would Slytherin lose but it seems the game's only just started. It hasn't. It's been going on a little while now but it hardly feels it and Doug isn't ready for the fun to end just yet.
Kurt Blackwell has gotten to the bludger Doug has been using the past few hits, and attempted hits, so he watches where Kurt sends the ball, hustling after it in an effort to stop it from smacking into Belinda McCourt. Doug can't get there fast enough but, luckily, Belinda abruptly changed directions, curving around to head the other way down the pitch when the quaffle changed hands. This pulled her out of the direct line of the bludger. That bludger is now in the open, waiting for Doug to send it on its way again, this time straight for Seth Weasley.
(Asher) Scowling
Author: Jolyon
Date: 02-25-18 09:18
Darting after the other bludger, Asher got to it just seconds before Noah could. Being bigger and meaner, he threw his body in between the black ball and the Ravenclaw beater and gave the bludger a mighty whack in Paton's direction. The hit wasn't very good because of the awkward position Asher had put himself in and because Noah had been unable to fully stop. The Ravenclaw beater pushed into Asher, and Asher felt the head of Noah's broomstick prod him in the back. He grunted, then scowled, and then took off after the same bludger.
Fortunately, Doug was on the spot to nudge the black ball along. He caught Paton in the forearm just as the Ravenclaw chaser was reaching out to accept a pass from his cousin Franciscus. The look on the Ravenclaw team captain's face was priceless. He cradled his arm, and his cheeks were bright red and his eyes glistened, though the latter afflictions might have been a result of the biting cold.
The quaffle, meanwhile, soared through the air. Charlotte caught it neatly in her arms and then took off in the opposite direction. Asher went into defense mode and deflected Kurt's bludger. Doug was on hand again to use the same bludger against Seth, who was attempting to give Charlotte a taste of her own medicine. He waved his arm in her direction, trying to dislodge the quaffle from her grasp.
Seth swerved abruptly when Paton called out a warning to him, but then he was right there on top of Charlotte again, attempting to give her a hard time. Asher decided enough was enough. He sought out the nearest bludger, which forced him to abandon Charlotte's side for the moment. Asher struck the black ball hard and sent it toward the Ravenclaw chaser. The bludger got him in the upper arm and caused him to bump Charlotte, but she had already passed the quaffle off to Belinda.
Belinda urged her broomstick to go super fast, intent on getting Slytherin to pull ahead of Ravenclaw. Asher hurried after her to shield her from a bludger attack. In his search for one of the black balls, his gaze fell on the staff box, where he saw his parents seated with their baby twins, one in each lap. The twins were both dressed in Slytherin colors in support of their big brother, though Asher's dad was dressed in blue in support of Ravenclaw. Asher scowled and redirected his attention to the task at hand.
Malden and Minerva at the Pitch
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 02-25-18 17:45
Malden flew around Sylvestor, who seemed to be on a systematic search for the snitch, and threw his gaze around for the four beaters and the two bludgers. He was satisfied to see that Asher and Douglas seemed to be in control of the black balls for the moment. Malden flattened himself across his broomstick to reduce wind resistance and catch up to Belinda, who still had possession of the quaffle.
When Franciscus converged on her, she made eye contact with Malden and immediately let the quaffle fly. Malden raced towards the red ball as it sailed in his direction and caught it with one arm, pulling it tight against his chest. He continued on to the Ravenclaw goal hoops, where Belinda's little sister awaited the onslaught of chasers.
Malden mentally calculated the best type of throw and the ideal hoop, considering factors like the other chasers, the bludgers, and of course Eileen herself. In the end he cut across the three hoops and tossed the quaffle toward the last one he passed, somehow managing to get it over Eileen's shoulder and outstretched arm and through the open circle without even touching the rim.
"McGonagall scores! Slytherin leads by 10!" shouted the commentator.
Malden allowed himself a quick grin, though it came out almost like a grimace. He glanced at the scoreboard which read Ravenclaw 10, Slytherin 20. Good!
Eileen handed the quaffle to Seth, and Malden set off in pursuit.
Professor McGonagall climbed into the staff box a moment later, having missed her great nephew's goal. She'd spent a good portion of the morning in her office with Azaelia Blackheart. Azaelia was in quite a state after being confronted by Rita Skeeter outside the Ministry of Magic. Azaelia had gone there for a meeting with Robert, who stood accused of being a Death Eater. That fact had been kept a secret since his arrest, though the news media had somehow found out about it and it wouldn't be long before everybody knew the truth. Minerva expected an article to appear in the Evening Prophet. She also suspected what else the article might reveal, given who its author likely would be. No doubt she would be accused of harboring a Death Eater and putting children in danger.
She was annoyed, but her greater concern was for the school librarian. Minerva had gently suggested that Azaelia take a leave of absence, but the younger witch wasn't quite ready to abandon her post. Rather than come to the Quidditch game with the Headmistress, though, Azaelia had decided to hole up in her quarters. Minerva couldn't blame her. If she weren't the sort to tackle problems head on, then she might be inclined to do the same.
Bad Tooth (Seth)
Author: Blossom
Date: 02-25-18 19:52
Seth rubs a hand over one cheek, trying not to wince. He's either got a cracked tooth or a chipped tooth or something like that. He doesn't, though, think it's a cavity. It had hurt a tiny bit this morning at breakfast but not enough to go right then to Madam Pomfrey, especially not when she might give him a potion that would make him sleepy and unable to play in this match against Slytherin. He thought it no big deal to wait until after the game.
He had not taken into account how much the cold, frigid even, air would affect the tooth. Seth hasn't even been breathing through his mouth much, or at least he doesn't think he has. Whatever the case, the tooth now throbs and that side of his face feels so swollen he's surprised he can't see his cheek and lips sticking far out, hanging down to his shoulder.
If he's done something before the match and ended up not being able to play the team could have made a hasty last minute substitution. Maybe Vincent Oliver or Brom von Roon. As it is now he would only leave the match if sent out by Professor Krum or Madam Hooch, who Seth knows all about thanks to his dad, Aunt Ginny, and all his uncles. He'll have to continue toughing it out and hope the pain doesn't get worse. If it gets worse he knows the pain will become distracting enough to make it difficult pay attention to the match. It's hard now but doable.
Since Slytherin's second goal the chasers have been up and down the pitch ten or twelve times, or so Seth thinks. It seems that much. Each time one team made it to the hoops guarded by the other team at least one goal attempt was made but so far the keepers have held each one back.
At the moment Malden once again has possession of the quaffle but Noah changes that in a blink. A bludger clips Malden on the forearm and next thing he knows Franciscus has plucked the quaffle from his grasp. Franciscus dodges and weaves around Belinda and Charlotte, ducking a bludger from Doug then passes off to Seth.
With the quaffle in hand Seth is better able to focus on the match instead of his tooth. He zig zags down the pitch, avoiding as best he can the efforts of the three Slytherin chasers. When he's able he passes to Paton, helping set his teammate up for a goal attempt.
Paton throws but Maurice deftly deflects. Charlotte catches the quaffle only to jerk her hard back from a bludger hit by Kurt, in the process loosening her grip on the ball. Seth is close enough to snatch it from her, immediately throwing at the middle hoop. Maurice throws himself at the ball but to his surprise, to everyone's really, the quaffle gets past him. Despite the pain on one side of his face, Seth breaks into a massive ear to ear grin as the goal is announced, "Weasley scores! With a score of twenty points each, the match is once again tied!"
Stiff Shoulders [Sylvestor]
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 02-26-18 17:35
Sylvestor rolls first one shoulder then the other, stretching out kinks as best he can while flying high above the ground. He hadn't realized how hunched in concentration he's been over his broom until his shoulders began to ache. The shoulder rolls help but he slows his broom so that it's barely creeping along but still moving. He leans over the broom handle, stretching one arm out along its length. After a few seconds he does the same with the other arm.
Just as Sylvestor is about to sit back up he sees something far down near the ground. Probably a leaf or a stray piece of litter that got past vigilent efforts begun by Professor McGonagall to keep the grounds clean of trash. That it's most likely not the snitch is no reason not to check it out. If he doesn't then it is the snitch and Bran will see it, grab it, and end the match with a Ravenclaw win.
Still going slowly, he aims his broom towards the ground at such a slight angle he hopes neither Bran nor with announcer will think much of it. Right now, the announcer is telling those assembled that Malden has just avoided a bludger hit by Kurt.
The act of dodging the bludger causes Malden to miss a pass from Charlotte. Seth swoops in and scoops up the quaffle, darting around Malden then throwing the red ball to Paton. Paton weaves around Belinda then Noah who's arrived at a bludger and bats it towards Belinda who is in hot pursuit of Paton.
Sylvestor nears the ground and levels out as Paton hurls the quaffle at one of the hoops only for Maurice to stop it by catching it outright. Maurice hands it over to Belinda who then tosses it to Charlotte. In turn, Charlotte once more passes to Malden, who catches the quaffle this time. Douglas have arrived at a bludger and sends it towards Franciscus who's trying to steal the quaffle from Malden.
Kurt uses the other bludger to try and distract Malden so that Franciscus can indeed steal. Neither bludger makes its mark though both come close. Malden sends the quaffle to Belinda who is now nearer where Eileen is ready for whatever Slytherin tries. As Belinda makes a goal attempt, quickly rebuffed by Eileen, Sylvestor breathes out emitting a disgusted sound that the thing he saw near the ground is a large golden leaf with curled edges, somehow left from autumn after all these months.
Rolling his shoulders again Sylvestor decides that as long as he's down this low he might as well do a more thorough search of at this level.
(Ash) Alarming News
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 02-26-18 18:21
The owl came while Ash was rearranging books in the family library at Westwick Grove. He recognized it at once as the same bird that had delivered Vandalia Keene's last message. Ash let it in and accepted the scrap of parchment it held out to him on an extended leg. The note said Go to The Rotting Flesh NOW.
Ash didn't give himself the opportunity to wonder about this latest summons and let the owl back out the window. He latched the window shut and then grabbed his winter cloak. There was no one home to say goodbye to: his father was at work, Rowan was at St. Emrys, and Willow was at Hogwarts. Ash was relieved at the thought of avoiding his father's suspicious gaze.
After locking up the house, Ash disapparated to London and from there crossed through The Leaky Cauldron to the brick wall behind the pub, where he tapped on the bricks and then went through the archway into Diagon Alley. He walked briskly and quickly arrived at Knockturn Alley. A short while later, he entered The Rotting Flesh pub and saw Vandalia near the front.
Vandalia seized him by the arm without even a hello and led him to a corner table, indicating for him to slide around the bench. She sat next to him. The James twins were already seated together, with Jupiter on the inside next to Ash. They were dressed in hooded cloaks, which seemed quite normal for the dingy, dubious pub, but Ash had a feeling they were hiding their faces on purpose.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"The three of you need to go underground," Vandalia stated.
"Why?" Ash asked. He looked at his neighbors and read in their shielded faces that they had already received the news.
"Blackheart was arrested and is in custody at the Minstry of Magic," Vandalia explained. "You three have likely been compromised. You're to go to the lair or face arrest, and if you end up arrested…" She slashed her index finger across her throat.
Ash shook his head. He knew he was safe from being arrested, but they didn't know that. "How do you know about Blackheart?"
"A source told me a story's going to appear in tonight's Evening Prophet," Vandalia answered.
"Since when are Death Eaters killed when they are arrested?" Janus asked, unable to hold his tongue.
Vandalia shot him a look. "You lot haven't been fully vested, but we're all expendable if that is the Dark Lord's wish. Do yourselves the favor of not getting caught. Leave here for the abbey and don't look back. Your lives are over as you know it."
Ash silently considered Vandalia's revelation. He knew without the shadow of a doubt that he would have to play along, which meant abandoning his home, his family, and his job until it was safe to return. Ash would have to figure out how to reach out to Connor, but that was something he could figure out later.
"Okay. Let's not waste any more time, then," he said, surprised by how unwavering his voice sounded.
Vandalia slid out of her side of the bench and waited for the others to follow suit. She led them to a darkened hallway where the loos were and instructed, "Go, now."
Jupiter looped her arm through Ash's and side-along apparated to the abbey with him. Janus was there a half-second later, but Vandalia stayed behind in the pub. She waited a long beat and then exited through the front door, heading to Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe, which she ran as a front for the Death Eaters.
End Of The Match (Bran & Kurt)
Author: Saffron
Date: 02-26-18 20:00
A few times now Bran has noticed Sylvestor rolling and stretching his shoulders. Bran can empathize. Two days ago Bran experienced a separated shoulder. If it had happened during a practice that would be one thing but no. He was injured when on a staircase that decided to move. A first year Hufflepuff ahead of him panicked, having never been caught on one in motion. Next thing Bran knew the Hufflepuff literally bowled him over and down the steps they went. Luckily for them both the staircase hadn't moved far so was nearly in place when they reached the bottom. Bran had had a flashing vision of being hurled into empty space before dropping like a stone who knows how far. It only occurred to him after that there might be some sort of spell or spells in place to keep students from going off either end of a moving staircase. He didn't ask at the time because the pain in his shoulder was so intense he could hardly walk. If not for the Hufflepuff Bran might have had to crawl all the way to see Madam Pomfrey.
The first year and he mostly had some scrapes and bruises from the tumble but Bran also had the separated shoulder. That there could have been broken bones and cracked skulls is not lost on him. The shoulder was bad enough.
The medicinal potion Madam Pomfrey gave him helped, especially with the pain but she told him the muscles need time to fully recover. His shoulder will be stiff and his, what did she call it?, range of motion? Yes, that's it. His range of motion would be limited for awhile. She told him to keep that in mind when playing on Saturday's Quidditch match. At least she hadn't told him he couldn't play today.
Bran's taken a bludger to that same shoulder so it's been throbbing a little but not so much he can't concentrate. Then again, his whole body's been a little stiff, a little sore from going the fast way down a staircase with a first year bumping into him the entire time. Even before the bludger hit to the injured shoulder he'd had some pain and throbbing, just thankfully not enough to distract him from a so far fruitless search for the snitch.
Flying by Kurt, Bran swerves to ensure he's out of his friend's bat swing radius. He's past Kurt when there's a massive crack of bat against hard black ball. He wonders who the target is but doesn't turn around to see.
Focused intently on getting the right angle and weight behind the bat to hit the bludger Kurt hadn't even noticed Bran going past. Belinda has the quaffle so that's where he's aimed only to have Belinda hand off to Charlotte just as his bat connects with the ball. He follows the bludger, increasing his speed to again come upon it, hitting it to redirect though not to Charlotte but past her to where Sylvestor is furtively slowing, hand going out as if reaching for the snitch. Kurt doesn't see it but that doesn't mean the little bugger isn't there. If it is, he hopes it surges away from Sylvestor long enough for the bludger to reach the Slytherin seeker.
Face furrowing Sylvestor stops altogether, head swiveling from side to side. Because he's stopped, the bludger just misses intercepting his flight path but looks like it doesn't matter. If the snitch had been there Sylvestor appears to have lost sight of it.
Meanwhile Noah's timed a bludger just right to screw with a pass of the quaffle, allowing Paton to gain possession. Paton accelerates away, quaffle tucked in tight. Asher tries to smack him with a bludger but by that time Kurt's near enough to help, turning the black ball in Charlotte's direction.
Paton reaches Maurice and his hoops only to pass to Seth. Malden is in front of Seth making it difficult for him to get a shot off so Seth turns and lobs the quaffle to Franciscus, who immediately sends it soaring towards the center of one of the hoops. A bludger from Noah clips Maurice across an arm as he's reaching for the quaffle. It's not a direct hit but it's enough that the red ball slips by Maurice's fingers.
Ravenclaw now leads 30 to 20!
Kurt races for a bludger as the action moves back the other direction. This time he sees Bran and is the one doing the swerving. Bran sees Kurt as well and nearly pulls his broom in a curve but is glad he didn't as he was going to go the same direction Kurt did. If Bran collides with anything else in what's left of this week he hopes it's something soft like his mattress.
Bran listens to the play-by-play as Slytherin moves the quaffle ever closer to Eileen and the three hoops behind her. He has an urge to stop and watch the game for a minute or two when he sees it. The snitch!
Going low over his broom, Bran goes straight for the winged ball. He's not at all surprised when Sylvestor zips up parallel to him, also leaning over his broom. They make a circuit around the pitch, Bran in the lead then Sylvestor edging him out only for Bran to inch ahead again. They are gaining on the snitch, or maybe it's slowing somewhat. Both seekers reach out for it.
And this is when Bran fully understands how having had a separated shoulder has affected his range of motion.
Bran is slightly ahead of Sylvestor and though he's a little older than the other seeker and his arm length is a fraction longer, Bran cannot fully extend his arm to catch the snitch and it's too late to switch hands. Sylvestor can't resist hooting triumphantly as his hand wraps around the snitch.
Sylvestor and Bran slow, a sigh escaping Bran's lips. "Congratulations, Sylvestor," he manages as the announcer proclaims a Slytherin victor with a score of 170 to 30.