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(Oliver) The Match Begins
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 02-16-19 12:15
After all seven members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team were properly dressed and equipped, captain Leo gathered everyone around and gave a rousing speech that ended with loud cheers. Oliver felt pretty confident today, having had excellent practices this past week during which he'd stopped more quaffles than not. It also helped that the weather wasn't supposed to be downright miserable. There might even be sun!
When commentator Ollie Choate began his announcements, the players mounted their brooms and then burst through the locker room doors to loud cheering and applause. Today's match was against Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuff team had one win under their belt so far this season, whereas Gryffindor had one loss. The statistic might psych out some players, but Oliver didn't give it much thought at all.
After making his circuit, during which he waved to his friends Grace and Rand and Uncle Ethan and cousin Lilly, he flew over to the Gryffindor goal hoops. Hufflepuff keeper Rex Applewhite took up position directly across from him, while the two captains touched down to shake hands and the other players formed a circle in the air above them.
After Leo and Duncan Dippet shook hands and promised to play a clean match, they mounted their brooms and took up positions in the circle. Coach Krum released the balls, one after the other, and then the match truly began.
Oliver was glad to see that his teammate Schuyler snatched the quaffle first. Schuyler broke away from the circle and then pitched the red ball to Gerry. Gerry held onto it for only a moment before launching it to Finley, but Kaycee darted between them and intercepted the quaffle. Kaycee turned her broomstick around abruptly and tossed the quaffle to Cornington as he passed her. Cornington pulled the red ball close to his side and leaned over the shaft of his broomstick to reduce wind resistance. He locked eyes with Oliver, who was ready for him.
Schuyler's cousin Gideon tried to unseat Cornington, but the bludger sailed past him. Conrad was on the spot to redirect it at Oliver. Oliver leaned out of its path, feeling the heat of the ball as it barely missed the side of his neck. At the same time, he struck out his arm and knocked the quaffle away from the hoop after Cornington attempted a goal.
Cornington tried to recover the quaffle, but Finley seized the ball before he could get a firm grip on it. She shot away before Tessa could target her with a bludger and then flung the quaffle at Schuyler, who shot away with an extra burst of speed. Oliver didn't allow himself to relax until Schuyler reached mid-field, which he accomplished with little obstruction.
(Tessa) A Hit
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 02-17-19 08:36
Tessa made a beeline for the nearest bludger and gave it a hard thump in Schuyler's direction, but by the time it got anywhere near him, he had already passed the quaffle to Gerry. Narrowing her eyes, Tessa threw herself after the same bludger and groaned when Cecily got to it first. Cecily targeted Kaycee with it, so Tessa made great effort to get between the black ball and its mark.
Kaycee saw Tessa coming before she saw the bludger and managed to get out of the way. Tessa made eye contact with Conrad, indicating she wished to bat the bludger at him. She sent it his way and then darted forward, chasing after the quaffle which was still in Gerry's possession. When Tessa got into prime position, she threw a look over her shoulder at Conrad, who plainly understood what she wanted. It was a move they'd practice before, though it was also one whose success depended solely on perfect timing.
Conrad batted the bludger towards her and she put all her strength behind her own swing. The bludger crashed into Gerry's shoulder just as he was about to let go of the quaffle. There was a mad scramble for the red ball, and Tessa was happy to see that Duncan emerged victorious.
She was so very satisfied to have caused Gerry pain and messed up his shot, and the wincing expression on his face made Tessa feel all the better.
She still hadn't gotten over what had happened at the last Quidditch match. That the quod had never been meant for her didn't even matter. It was the simple fact that her ex-boyfriend had been involved with something so stupid, and that his intent had been to cause somebody harm.
Blakeney had really wanted Tessa to have a good Valentine's Day. She'd almost skipped the concert in the Commons but had gone at the last minute just to get out of her dorm room. Blakeney had been dressed to the nines and flirted with many boys, but Tessa had sat at the bar the entire time and had only been social when forced to be.
During the Hogsmeade trip, she'd followed Blakeney around everywhere. The day hadn't been all that bad, since Tessa had known that she wouldn't run into either Will or Gerry in the village, because they were banned from visiting for the rest of the school year. Served them right! She just wished Blakeney would lay off on finding her a new boyfriend. Tessa wasn't ready, and besides, she could manage it on her own. She'd had two real boyfriends to Blakeney's zero, if they were keeping score, which they weren't.
Tessa was very surprised that Chip had moved on with Kaycee, but she wasn't mad at either for coming together. They deserved to be happy, and maybe they would be a better couple than Tessa and Chip had ever been.
Duncan passed the quaffle to Kaycee, who in Tessa's opinion didn't look nervous to be playing in a match against the boy who'd tried to explode a quod on her during her last match. If anything, she looked very determined to win.
Kaycee - Determination
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 02-17-19 13:31
Kaycee did feel nervous about being in a match with Gerry, even though she knew it would be unlikely that he'd set another quod loose, especially when he could be a target this time. Not only that, he would be a fool to try that trick again. He'd already lost points for Gryffindor, had his Hogsmeade privileges revoked, and earned detention. Next, he'd probably lose his position on the Gryffindor Quidditch team or even get expelled. On second thought, maybe Kaycee should hope he'd try something again this match.
She shot the quaffle forward at Cornington, who hurried to the Gryffindor goal hoops where Oliver awaited them. Cornington attempted a goal, but Oliver was able to knock it back with the palm of his hand. Cornington and Finley both scrambled for the rebound, with Finley almost having it but then losing it to Cornington, whose grip was stronger.
Cornington attempted another goal, but this time Oliver stopped the quaffle outright. He handed it to Finley, but she lost the ball almost immediately when Conrad's perfectly-timed bludger struck the red ball. He managed to mash some of her fingers in the process, too.
The quaffle went flying, and all the chasers except for Finley launched themselves at it. There were elbows and broomstick bristles jabbing everyone everywhere. Kaycee even accidentally-on-purpose managed to jab the nose of her broom dangerously close to Gerry's groin. Good thing the chasers were clustered so close together that the referees couldn't really tell what was happening on accident or on purpose.
Kaycee managed to nab the quaffle out the sky but had trouble maneuvering, what with all the brooms and arms and other extremities all around her. She saw that Duncan was open and threw to him, but Schuyler almost intercepted. He got a hand on the ball, which had it falling. Kaycee dove and winced when she felt something scrape across her forehead. She grabbed the ball, accelerated as she ascended, and then threw the quaffle the same time Tessa aimed a bludger at Oliver.
Oliver dodged the black ball and then attempted to dive back the other way to stop the red one, but he was too slow. Kaycee grinned when she saw the quaffle sail through the hoop, putting the first points of the match on the board for Hufflepuff. She instantly regretted smiling, though, because the movement on her face caused the cut on her forehead to sting, and then she noticed a little bit of blood dripping into her eyes.
She used the sleeve of her uniform to swipe at her forehead and then frowned when she saw the scarlet blood covering the yellow. Coach Krum called a quick time out to check her wound and the state of Finley's fingers. Both girls didn't feel like they couldn't go on with the match. In fact, Kaycee felt pretty determined to score again and again for Hufflepuff, bleeding forehead or not!
Cough Cough Cough (Schuyler)
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 02-17-19 18:36
A persistent tickle in Schuyler's throat had until this moment been a mere annoyance. Now, as he coughs so much he has trouble focusing on catching a pass from Gerry, that tickle has become a problem. Maybe maybe maybe he'll get through this bout of coughing and that will be it.
The coughing stops for a moment though Schuyler knows it's wishful thinking to think that's it.
Quaffle in hand, tickle irritating this throat enough he sort of wants to have another coughing fit, Schuyler zooms past Tessa. She's in the process of hitting a bludger but based on her position and the black ball's he thinks she's aiming at Finley, probably in an effort to delay, or put off altogether, Schuyler sending the quaffle her way.
Feeling the urge to cough becoming impossible to resist, Schuyler does pass but back to Gerry. Duncan tries to intercept but can't get to the quaffle in time. Gerry easily catches the ball, pulling it in close to his body as he accelerates away.
Gerry works his way around Gideon then Conrad, who both seem to be after the same bludger. Cornington suddenly appears on Gerry's right, maneuvering in close, watching for an opening to steal but ends up dropping back for a few seconds when Cecily gets him with a bludger.
Cornington gets even with Gerry again just as Gerry passes to Finley. Finley is near enough to Rex to go on and throw in a goal attempt but she pushes in closer, trying to throw Rex off as to which hoop she'll aim for. Just as she goes to throw the ball she's jostled by a bludger, which messes up her throw, allowing Rex to get to the quaffle without any issue.
Through his coughing, Schuyler somehow snags the ball, immediately making another Gryffindor goal attempt. He knows as soon as the ball leaves his hand that the throw isn't all that great, likely due the coughing racking his entire body. Once again Rex deflects the quaffle, this time right into Kaycee's grasp.
(Cecily) The Third Bludger
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 02-18-19 13:41
Kaycee had the quaffle in her hands and she was ready to shot. Cecily watched as Gerry placed himself in front of her blocking her sight. Kaycee offered the quaffle to Duncan, but he was not able to grab it because Finley stole the red ball during its free flight. Cecily looked around trying to locate one of the bludgers.
She spotted Tessa chasing one of the bludgers. She reached it and hit the heavy ball with her bat, having Finley as her target. Finley had managed to gain some distance from Oliver's hoops, and Gerry and Schuyler were following her, ready to assist Finley. Cecily followed Tessa's bludger and she reached it before it would get into Finley's way. She tossed it as far away as she could, so either Tessa and Conrad would take some time to retrieve it.
Finley meanwhile had passed the quaffle to Schuyler, who then offered it back to Finley, when Cornington applied some pressure with his body on Schuyler's left flank. Cecily then spotted Gideon sending a bludger directly at Duncan who was glued to Gerry, not allowing Finley to pass him the quaffle. Cecily thought that it seemed like Gerry was under constant vigilance not only by the Hufflepuff team but also by everyone at the stands, after his well known quod incident.
The bludger hit Duncan on the back and Cecily went to collect it, to try and inflict him another hit, as he had flinched but he did not leave Gerry alone. Then as she was doing so, she spotted another bludger, passing freely in front of her. She looked at Gideon confused. It made no sense as one bludger had been sent far away, being collected by Tessa, and she was after the other one…Gideon shrugged his shoulders and went after the third bludger. Conrad did the same thing.
"By Merlin's beards! There are three bludgers in the pitch!" Ollie Choate said.
The match was quickly interrupted, but not before Conrad reached the third bludger and hit Finley with it on her arm. Finely dropped the quaffle with the impact, and Kaycee quickly caught it. The third bludger was removed from the match, and Cecily heard Ollie explaining that one of the spare bludgers had managed to let itself loose from its trunk.
"Could this be another of Martini-Blackwell's pranks?" He suggested.
"Mr. Choate! Please do not make such defamatory speculations. Please stick to the facts," they heard Headmistress McGonagall saying.
"Sorry Headmistress..."
Meanwhile Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs started to argue, the match still interrupted. The Gryffindors defended that Finley should keep the quaffle, since they considered Conrad's hit invalid. On the other hand the Hufflepuffs claimed Conrad was ignorant about which bludger was the spare one, and that Gideon had also tried to reach it, and so the quaffle should belong to Kaycee. Coach Krum solved the dispute by picking the quaffle and throwing it up in the air just at the start of the match.
Cecily frowned because it was Cornington who managed to get the quaffle. She quickly flew away in search for a bludger she could throw at him.
Copy Cat?
Author: Ellis
Date: 02-18-19 18:12
Conrad somehow doubted that the third bludger had accidentally gotten loose from its trunk. After the previous match, where a quod was substituted for the quaffle, Conrad could well-imagine that someone had gotten the bright idea to muck up this match, too. He wasn't entirely sure that Gerry would loose a third bludger in a match he was playing in, but then again, being in the match might turn the blame away from him, especially if he were to get hit.
Conrad figured the third bludger was the result of a copy cat prankster, and he also imagined that Professor McGonagall and Coach Krum would get to the bottom of it sooner or later. His fingers were crossed that the perpetrator wasn't in Hufflepuff, so no points would be lost.
Since Cornington had the quaffle, Conrad went into defense mode. He flew in between the Hufflepuff chaser and a bludger sent courtesy of Cecily and then redirected the bludger at Schuyler. Schuyler stopped short of getting hit when his body was racked by a violent cough. Conrad really hoped it wasn't contagious, because he didn't need to be getting sick. Being sick would cut down on any kissing he might be doing with Belinda, though they hadn't actually done any kissing yet.
Conrad had kissed her on the hand and on the cheek on Valentine's Day and almost every day since, but not on the lips. He wasn't exactly a shy person, so he wasn't sure why he was waiting, especially since they had been hanging out for around a month now. He supposed he wanted to be a perfect gentleman and wait for her cue to tell him she was ready. Maybe he should also make things official and ask her to be his girlfriend. Perhaps that ought to be his next step.
Cornington passed the quaffle to Kaycee, who passed it to Duncan. Duncan drove hard for the Gryffindor goals, and Oliver hunkered down before the hoops, ready to block them any which way. Conrad zoomed ahead too, hoping to assist, but right now there wasn't a bludger in his path.
That soon changed when Gideon aimed a bludger at Duncan. Conrad saw it coming out of the corner of his eye and pushed himself to fly faster. He missed intercepting it, but Tessa was on the spot and knocked it at Gerry, who was getting far too grabby around Duncan. Gerry rolled his shoulder back to avoid the hit, and Duncan took the opportunity to attempt a goal. He threw, but the quaffle hit the rim of the hoop and rebounded into the fray.
Freezing (Duncan)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 02-18-19 18:22
Today is cold but not as cold as some have been but for some reason Duncan is absolutely freezing. He's freezing even with extra layers on. He fervently hopes he's not coming down with something and that if he is, it's something that will pass quickly and won't require a visit to Madam Pomfrey. Duncan swears the woman purposely makes medicinal potions taste as awful as possible.
During the short time the match was stopped to remove the third bludger Duncan wondered what would happen next during a match. Would a second quaffle show up in the next game or a flock of snitches? An entire flock of snitches might actually be sort of funny. That would be a good April Fool's joke for a practice or a pick-up match. Not for an official match. Duncan is a seventh year and can't go screwing the last of his time up at Hogwarts with endless detentions.
Chasers converged on the rebounding quaffle with Gerry emerging victorious from the fray. Around mid-field he passed to Finley. She carried the quaffle almost all the way to Rex before passing to Schuyler lofted the quaffle in the direction of one of the hoops but Rex not only blocked but caught the quaffle outright. He handed it off to Cornington who took off down the pitch with the other chasers closely behind and spreading out.
Shivering Duncan is distracted enough for a second with being miserably cold that he nearly misses a pass from Cornington. He recovers just quickly enough to catch it without difficulty before Schuyler can steal the quaffle away. He flies in a straight line, accelerating the entire time then suddenly brakes. The abruptness of it causes Schuyler to shoot past Duncan, who tosses the quaffle sideways to Kaycee.
Finley attempts to rip the quaffle right out of Kaycee's grasp but Kaycee jerks it away, forcing Finley to either back off or to commit a foul. Finley backs off.
Kaycee rapidly closes the distance to where Oliver is on high alert. With a well timed bludger hit Tessa is able to assist Kaycee's goal effort. Oliver is reaching with one hand to bat the quaffle away when the bludger takes him in the shoulder. The recoil from the hit is enough to interfere with his successfully swatting the red ball away.
As he smiles at Hufflepuff's second goal of the match, bringing the score to 20-0, Duncan wonders if his cold, numb lips are blue yet.
Double Checking (Gideon)
Author: Blossom
Date: 02-19-19 15:01
Twenty to zero. That just won't do. Gideon then thinks, "Well, it would do if Gryffindor had the twenty points and Hufflepuff nothing. Then it would be absobloodylutely great."
Slowing as he approaches a bludger, he finds himself attempting to quickly check that there is only one other in the air at the moment. After that extra bludger somehow made it into the match a little earlier he keeps expecting another to show up at any time. He wonders if Cecily, Conrad, and Tessa are having the same need to keep double checking that only two bludgers are in play.
Come to think of it, why are there two instead of just one or not three or four? Why two beaters per team instead of just one and have only one bludger to compete for? Gideon has read some about the history of Quidditch but doesn't remember any of that specifically addressed. He'll have to look or ask Seth if he remembers seeing anything on it. Or Larkin even. She reads a lot of history about things. Aunt Hermione might know. She's the smartest person in the family, or so Gideon often thinks. Not that the rest are dummies by any stretch of the imagination.
Satisfied there are only two bludgers in play, Gideon solidly thumps his bat against the one black ball in front of him, Cornington his target. Schuyler has the quaffle but Cornington is giving him fits trying to take possession of the red orb.
The bludger misses but it passes Cornington closely enough to give Schuyler the opportunity to pass to Finley. She catches without having to slow, tucks the quaffle in closely, leans over her broom and increases her speed, racing towards Rex. Finley weaves around Tessa then Duncan then Cecily. Cecily seems to be heading for the same bludger Tessa is so Gideon shifts directions to go after the other, which Conrad has just hit.
Gidon intercepts the bludger, which based on its trajectory was heading for Gerry. Good thing too because about the time it would have reached Gerry, the chaser is catching the quaffle sent to him by Finley. Gerry is in optimal goal scoring range so he throws the quaffle at the rings though from his position Gideon can't tell which one Gerry has aimed for.
It's too late for Gideon to try and help with a bludger to Rex. He'd already hit the one he'd intercepted from Conrad, redirecting it to target Kaycee. He can't get to it again in time to do any good nor is he close enough to the other bludger to even bother trying to assist with this goal attempt.
And attempt it turns out to be rather than a scored goal. Rex got there in time to block, swatting the quaffle away with Cornington catching it. Nearing one of the bludgers again, Gideon bats it into Cornington's path, hoping to help his team's chasers get the quaffle back quickly while the ball is still at this end of the pitch, near Rex and his hoops. It's past time for Gryffindor to get points on the board!
Hopefully Not Blamed for the Bludger
Author: Gerry
Date: 02-19-19 16:32
Gerry was so sure that Professor McGonagall would insist he exit the match as soon as the third bludger came onto the scene, but she didn't. He sure guessed that she suspected him of introducing it into the match, even though Gerry wasn't responsible for it at all. He had no knowledge of its origin, and knew for sure Will wasn't involved in the prank either. Whoever did it was obviously following in his footsteps, but was the imitation flattery or an effort to get him expelled?
If the latter, Gerry suspected Kaycee, but would she really put a third bludger into the match and increase her own chances of getting hurt? If not Kaycee, then maybe Tessa. She sure was sore with Will for what happened in the last match, and it definitely seemed like she could hold a grudge. If not either girl, then who was the real culprit? Or was it really just an accident like the announcer suggested? Gerry wanted to know the truth. He just hoped he didn't have to defend himself first.
Cornington had the quaffle and passed it to Duncan when Gideon's bludger came across his path. Duncan threw long to Kaycee, which was when Gerry picked off the red ball. He hadn't forgotten that she'd jabbed the nose of her broomstick dangerously close to a sensitive part of his body earlier in the match. Sure, it might have been an accident, but it might have also been done accidentally-on-purpose. He wouldn't put it past her, even in the chaos of that moment.
Gerry zoomed the short distance to where Rex waited. He threw for a goal, but the quaffle rebounded off the rim of the hoop and landed back into his waiting arms. Someone sent a bludger into the back of Gerry's shoulder, causing it to roll forward and for the bludger to continue over it into Rex's path. Although the shoulder affected was the one attached to his throwing arm, Gerry took advantage of Rex's distraction to attempt a goal.
His throw was a bit wonky, and Rex would have certainly stopped it had the bludger not soared straight at him, but Gerry nevertheless managed to get the quaffle through the hoop. Finally, Gryffindor had points on the board.
Gryffindor 10, Hufflepuff 20
Maybe Next Match (Rex)
Author: Saffron
Date: 02-19-19 20:12
Rex had started to think he might go the entire match without allowing Gryffindor to score. Now he thinks, "Oh well. Maybe next match." He sighs. That match will be against Slytherin and is ages from now. He sighs again and tries to think of the last match when one house team was unable to score at least one goal in a game but nothing comes to mind. He wonders if it's ever happened and if so how long ago. If it has happened was the match an entire shutout or did the non-goal scoring team manage to catch the snitch? Was that enough to win or was the match one on goal points?
Rex puts these thoughts on hold as the six chasers and four beaters start his direction again when Finley intercepts a pass between Kaycee and Duncan. Conrad tries to slow Finley with a bludger. It misses but then Tessa is successful with the other bludger before Cecily can get to it. Finley takes a fairly hard hit to one knee and does slow but that merely allows her to better pass off to Schuyler.
Cecily is able to get to the bludger that clipped Finley and aims it at Cornington. It misses though just barely and only because Cornington changed abruptly changed direction, suddenly arcing around to the left though Rex can't tell if that's because he saw the bludger coming or if something else got his attention.
Just as suddenly Cornington veers back the other way. He'd been constantly accelerating so despite having flown a curved path he's managed to get in front of Schuyler, forcing him to slow. Kaycee comes up to flank Schuyler on one side with Duncan on the other. The three Hufflepuff chasers have Schuyler boxed.
Gerry goes into a climb and seeing him Finley dives slightly. He levels off just above Schuyler while Finley does the same just below. Because it's easier to drop the ball down than to toss upwards while in flight, Kaycee starts dropping down as if coming on top of Finley, thus forcing Finley to either dive again or stop keeping pace with Schuyler. Meanwhile, Tessa targets Finley with a bludger. Conrad tries to get to the second bludger to bat at either Schuyler or Gerry but Cecily beats him to it.
Just as Duncan decides to angle up to harass Gerry, two things happen at once. Cecily's bludger connects with Duncan and Schuyler passes the quaffle upwards to Gerry. The bludger slows Duncan just enough for Gerry to cleanly catch the quaffle and accelerate away, heading straight for Rex.
Longest Match In Hogwarts History? [Bertie]
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 02-20-19 14:19
During a time out Bertie leans forward on his broom, eyes continuing to scan for even a small glint that might be the gold of the snitch. He thought he'd seen the tiny ball just after Hufflepuff had scored its first goal but in the short time it took him to get to where he thought he saw it, there was no sign of the winged ball. Even now he's not certain that what he saw was the snitch or just something caught up by the slight breeze or something else altogether. If Leo's seen the snitch since its release at the start of the match, the Gryffindor seeker has given no obvious sign of a sighting.
When the time out ends, Bertie sits up straighter, debating which direction to go to resume his search. Slightly below him, somewhat centered over the pitch Gerry puts the quaffle back into play with a pass to Finley who then sends it along to Schuyler. Though the action has barely begun again both Gideon and Conrad get off bludgers, Gideon's aimed at Cornington and Conrad's at Schuyler.
The bludger from Conrad smacks into Schuyler's shoulder from behind. The force of it causes Schuyler to lurch forward just as he's attempting to firm up his grip on the quaffle. What happens instead is the quaffle pops out of his hand. He fumbles for it, trying to regain his hold. Kaycee darts in, being as careful as she can not to cause a foul, not easy when she's moving to quickly.
Kaycee grabs the quaffle, briefly grappling with Schuyler for it as he continues trying to regain a good hold on the ball. Tessa sends a bludger at him and though Cecily tries to reach it in time to stop the black ball from reaching Schuyler, she's unable to get to it in time. The bludger knocks into Schuyler's other side just hard enough that Kaycee is able to jerk the quaffle fully away from him.
Kaycee promptly passes to Duncan who gathers speed, flying straight for Oliver. A bludger from Gideon grazes Duncan but doesn't slow him. Slowing as he nears the hoops, Duncan sends the quaffle to Cornington in a pass that's more of a slinging than a throwing. Gerry tries for the interception but takes a bludger courtesy of Conrad.
Cornington throws off to his right but Oliver, who has to shoot to his own left, deflects the quaffle. Finley jerks her broom towards the ball, doing a quarter roll to reach for it but Kaycee gets their first. Kaycee hurls the quaffle far left from her perspective, which is far to the right for Oliver. He moves quickly but not quite quickly enough. The quaffle grazes the rim of the hoop but passes through for Hufflepuff's third goal.
Bertie is passing behind the hoops in his quest for the snitch just as the quaffle flies through. It not only hits him but he ends up catching it. Because the ball had gone through the hoop for a goal it was not technically in play just then so a foul isn't called. He tosses it to Oliver so the quaffle can be put back into play then goes back to his search, starting to think the snitch will never be found and that this match could go on record as the longest in Hogwarts history.
Score: Hufflepuff 30, Gryffindor 10
Goal Attempts
Author: Finley
Date: 02-20-19 16:31
Finley accepted the quaffle from Oliver and tossed it to Gerry. Gerry swerved to avoid Conrad's bludger and handed the quaffle to Schuyler as he zipped by him. Finley arced around Kaycee and Duncan and then urged her broomstick to go faster to pull ahead enough for Schuyler to pass to her if he wanted.
He held onto the quaffle for as long as he could, only parting with it when Duncan pulled alongside him at the same time Tessa sent a bludger his way. Rather than pass to Finley, who was wide open, Schuyler lobbed the quaffle at Gerry, who was in a better position. Gerry sped forward and then pitched the quaffle at Finley, who drove hard for the Hufflepuff goal hoops.
She let the quaffle fly and wasn't deterred when Rex knocked it back, even though Gryffindor was currently losing the match. Finley caught the rebound and tried again, this time with some assistance from Cecily. The bludger she sent at Rex caused him to dodge out of its way, but he still somehow managed to stop Finley's goal attempt. The rebound went to Hufflepuff, with Cornington carrying it away before throwing it to Duncan.
Finley tried to catch up, but the earlier bludger impact to her knee was starting to act up again. After the initial sting wore off, Finley ignored the discomfort, but now it seemed worse than ever. Maybe it was the cold, or maybe it was the bruising and swelling that was likely still occurring underneath her pant leg. Whatever the reason, Finley knew that she would probably have to see Madam Pomfrey for it, but she hoped to do it after the match, not during!
Duncan drew ever closer to the hoops, but then he passed the quaffle to Kaycee. Kaycee was on a roll today, having scored all three of Hufflepuff's goals so far. Would she manage another?
Another Goal Or Not (Leo & Cornington)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 02-20-19 20:58
Leo doesn't know if Bertie is as frustrated as he is but if he took a few seconds to pull alongside the Hufflepuff seeker and ask he wouldn't be at all surprised if Bertie confirmed that he too is wondering where the bloody heck that snitch is. As if having a similar thought about pulling alongside for a word Bertie slowly flies past, his features drawn in frustration. Leo nods at him. Bertie nods back. Leo starts to ask, "Have you had a sighting at all?" when the snitch is somehow right there in front of both of them.
The two seekers hastily stop as if each is wondering if he is hallucinating, both sets of eyes fixed on the hovering snitch. At approximately the same time Leo and Bertie spur their brooms forward, each reaching out for the snitch.
The snitch remains where it is all of a heartbeat then takes off, wings flapping so rapidly they're nothing but a blur. Leo draws his arm back but stays low over his broom as he speeds up. Beside him, Bertie does the same. Neck and neck they follow the snitch, which curves around near some of the stands. Leo is on the outside, closest to the stands. Bertie is close enough for Leo to reach out and touch. Twice they jostle each other without meaning to and each time Leo worries he'll bang into the stands, which would give Bertie a huge advantage at getting to the snitch first.
As they near the end of the boundary at that end the snitch angles around to cut across the breadth of the pitch, taking them behind the hoops there. It's only when the snitch darts around the third hoop starting back down the length of the pitch that Leo realizes the snitch has also been on a slight downward trajectory. By the time the snitch reaches the other set of hoops its down near the ground, Bertie and Leo having to be careful not to let their feet touch down and drag.
The snitch passes in front of the hoops at that end, leading them around to the other side and again starting down the length of the pitch while also starting to climb. A bludger crosses the seekers' paths though Leo has no idea which beater sent it so has no idea if it was meant for him or for Bertie. As Leo is once again on the outside he has to think it was meant for Bertie.
When Leo was thinking about asking Bertie if he'd had a single snitch sighting yet Cornington was busy passing the quaffle to Duncan. Gideon got a bludger off at just the right moment for it to hit Duncan as the Hufflepuff chaser was reaching to catch the quaffle. This allowed Finley to steal the ball. Deftly spinning her broom around she took off back the other way. Conrad sends a bludger after her but it only skims across the tail of her broom.
The action wasn't all that far from Rex's position when Finley got the quaffle. She rapidly reaches the hoops, having to just as rapidly slow so as not to fly right into one of them or through one with the quaffle in hand. If any part of her had passed through a hoop while she's got the quaffle, that would be a foul.
Just as Finley goes to make a goal attempt Cornington in a daring move plucks the quaffle right out of her hand. He throws it to Kaycee who takes off down the pitch. Cecily tries to slow her with a bludger but Tessa gets to the bludger before the bludger gets to Kaycee. Schuyler gets in alongside Kaycee but she doesn't give him an opportunity to steal the ball back for Gryffindor. Kayee throws off to her other side, sending the quaffle to Duncan.
Duncan passes to Cornington who passes to Kaycee who throws it back to Duncan. With each pass the Hufflepuff chasers work the quaffle closer and closer to Oliver. As they near the hoops Cornington has the quaffle. He sees Gideon batting a bludger. Thinking it's coming his way Cornington alters course slightly, surprised when the bludger never comes near. It's Ollie Choate announcing a bludger sent into the path of both seekers that Cornington figures Gideon was sending the bludger after Bertie.
As Cornington slows on approach to the hoops, Leo puts on a burst of speed in an attempt to close the distance to the snitch and to pull ahead of Bertie. Bertie's having none of that and matches Leo's speed. Both edge nearer the snitch as each half expects the snitch to speed up as well.
Cornington sends the quaffle towards the center of one hoop but Oliver easily bops the quaffle away. Duncan gets it but somehow gets turned around and ends up literally handing the ball to Kaycee. She sets up her shot and lets the quaffle fly.
At the same moment Kaycee is trying for another Hufflepuff goal, Leo and Bertie are shoulder to shoulder, both with feet set on the stirrups of their brooms, both half standing to lean even farther out over his respective broom, both reaching for the snitch.
Leo and Bertie grab for the snitch at the same time. At that exact moment the quaffle is passing through one of the hoops, Oliver unable to block the shot in time.
When Bertie and Leo open their hands, it's Leo's on which the snitch now rests.
There is a brief moment during which Coach Krum determines whether the snitch was caught before Kaycee's fourth goal of the match, after the goal, or at the same moment.
Though Gryffindor is the clear winner with the 150 points from Leo's catching of the snitch, the stadium falls quiet waiting to learn whether Kaycee's goal counts toward the final score. Coach Krum doesn't leave the players or spectators waiting long. The goal is good, giving the match a final score of 160 points for Gryffindor and 40 for Hufflepuff.