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Oliver at the Match, Ethan at the Ministry
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 04-05-19 18:37
Oliver squinted in the bright sunlight. It was the perfect spring day for a Quidditch match, but sunglasses were definitely needed. He hoped that not having any wouldn't impact his gameplay today. At least the ball he had to focus on was huge and red. He'd hate to be after the snitch, though it just might glint and give away its location in the intense sunlight.
At tip off, teammate Schuyler got the quaffle first. He threw it to Gerry, who swerved around Jordan, before lobbing the ball back at Schuyler. Schuyler made himself flat to reduce wind resistance––it was fairly breezy––and took off like a shot for the Ravenclaw goal hoops. He got pretty far but not far enough, because Kurt sent a bludger hurdling right across his path. Schuyler stopped short, and his cousin Seth plucked the ball from his arms and arced around to fly in the opposite direction.
Oliver got ready, even though Seth was still a long way off. He was flying fast, though, and then he pitched the ball forwards towards Chloe, who was open and ready to receive his pass. Chloe got the ball effortlessly and made a beeline for Oliver. The sun was hurting his eyes a bit, but he forced them to stay wide open and moved in the direction of the quaffle when Chloe threw it. Oliver got the whole of his hand on it and pushed it forward.
Chloe scrambled to get the rebound, but Finley turned up and snatched it for herself. She turned abruptly, wiggled in her seat to avoid a bludger suddenly coming her way, and then shot away. Oliver didn't relax until the quaffle was well out of range.
Meanwhile, Ethan was not at the match. He was at the Ministry of Magic. It being a Saturday, the place was quieter than usual, but it wasn't devoid of activity by any stretch of the imagination. A lot had happened recently, after all.
The big news for Ethan was the news that his adoptive father was now holed up in a Ministry holding cell, awaiting trial. Dorian Somerset had been present at the Irish abbey, the hideout selected by Adriana Fairchild way back when and where the Death Eaters resided even after her death.
Ethan had known that his father had joined the Death Eaters ever since the most recent attack in Diagon Alley, where Voldemort was revealed to be alive… at least allegedly. In all honesty, Ethan had suspected that his father joined before then, but that fateful day had been all the proof he needed. And now Dorian had been caught, and yes, there was a Dark Mark on his forearm.
Ethan had learned the news from Jaiden. She popped her head in the fire late on the night of the raid to update him. Ethan had wanted to drop everything and head out to the abbey to help scour the place for evidence, but she didn't invite him and so he didn't ask. The time since then and now had been too busy at Hogwarts and home for him to check in, so that was how he found himself at the Ministry today instead of at the Quidditch match.
"So you drew the short straw and are working on Saturday," he commented, when he saw Jaiden.
She smiled. "You know how it goes. Crime never takes a holiday, and a lot of us are here today because of what happened. Do you want to see him?"
"Do you think I should?"
"I don't see any reason why you shouldn't. We've interrogated him a few times since he was brought in. There's a lot he can't say, but we expected that."
"Did you get anything useful out of him?" Ethan asked.
"He says Voldemort really is alive, but I don't know what to think. Is he saying it to mess with us? Can he say it because it's not really true? Can he say it because Voldemort doesn't want his return to be a secret? How can we believe what any Death Eater says, though?"
"Veritaserum ought to clear up the mystery."
Jaiden gave him a look. "Yes, and it just well might. So, do you want to see him, or not?"
Ethan nodded. "Yes."
She led him to the area where the holding cells were located and then took him to Dorian's cell. Jaiden left Ethan then so he could have a moment alone with his father.
Dorian didn't have any signs of battle on him. If he'd been injured, he'd been treated and fully healed. He got up from his bunk and walked over to where Ethan stood, with only the bars of his cell between them.
At first the two wizards only stared at each other, but then a slow smile spread across Dorian's face. It was the sort of smile to send chills down anyone's spine. It wasn't an expression Ethan recognized from his childhood, but he'd known it for years now.
Dorian leaned his face close to the bars and ominously said, "If I were you, I'd be intensely worried."
(Cecily & Eileen) An Important Match
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 04-06-19 10:05
Cecily watched as Finley managed to fly over a large portion of the pitch with the quaffle. She and Gideon were flying closer to the Gryffindor chasers, ready to protect them from any bludgers sent by Noah and Kurt. This match was very important for the Gryffindors. Cecily was just a first year but she was told by everyone that their house has not win any House or Quidditch cup for more than ten years. If Gryffindor won this match, the team would most likely be in the Championship match, giving them a shot to finally win something.
Finley had passed the quaffle to Schuyler when she felt surrounded by both Seth and Chloe. Schuyler was completely free, since Gerry was being covered by Jordan. This freedom allowed Schuyler to get closer to the Ravenclaw hoops. However it also made him an easier target for the beaters. Kurt had caught a bludger and shot it into Schuyler's direction. Cecily moved into the bludger's direction. She used her bat to quickly send the black ball away. Escaping without a scratch, Schuyler got closer to the hoops guarded by Eileen. He was in a position to try and score, but Seth blocked his way, standing on his broom right in front of his cousin. A little bit upset that his plans were ruined, Schuyler found an opening to pass the quaffle to Gerry. Unfortunately Jordan who was still close to Gerry, was quicker to grab it.
Gerry tried to gain the quaffle back into Gryffindor possession, his hand touching the quaffle, but Jordan was holding it tight. The Ravenclaw chaser speeded up in his broomstick, leaving a furious Gerry behind. Cecily gained some altitude in search for a bludger. She spotted one not very far from where the seekers, Bran and Leo, were. Gideon had tried to injure Bran a minute ago, but unfortunately Bran was able to avoid it. Cecily went after the bludger. She had to circle it and then when she was face to face with it, she hit it with her bat, aiming at Seth who now had the quaffle. The quaffle hit Seth's back and he dropped the quaffle, as he was not expecting such an impact.
Cecily ignore who got the quaffle as she went after another bludger. She glanced at the stands, trying to find Wren, who had come once again to see her playing, but with so many spectators it was impossible to locate her brother.
Meanwhile Eileen had seen the quaffle being recovered by the Ravenclaw chasers. It had been Chloe who got it. She watched Chloe avoiding Gerry and passing the quaffle to Seth, already recovered from Cecily's bludger. Seth then passed it to Jordan. But getting his revenge from earlier, Gerry caught the quaffle in the air, cutting the pass. He shifted his broomstick, going back to Ravenclaw's side of the pitch. He made a long pass to Finley who got the quaffle and continued down to Eileen's hoops. Eileen adjusted her right keeper glove in a hurry. She had noticed she had put it on incorrectly and her hand was bit loose inside the glove. Finely was approaching quickly. She avoided a bludger sent by Noah. She made a shot to the right. Eileen dived in that direction. She knew she would not be able to grab the quaffle but she used her right hand to block the quaffle from entering the hoops. She smiled, glad she had been able to avoid a goal, but she found herself without her glove. She was not able to adjust it properly and with the movement the glove fell off her hand. Eileen watched it going down the pitch like a leaf falling from a tree. Chloe was able to catch the quaffle after Eileen's defense and she was trying to get away from the hoops area.
Eileen waited until Chloe and the other chasers were at a safe distance to retrieve her glove and fully get back on the game. Just like for the Gryffindors, a victory for Ravenclaw would probably grant them a place in the Championship match. Eileen had been there last year and she wanted to repeat such experience.
Surprised
Author: Gerry
Date: 04-06-19 17:49
Honestly, Gerry was surprised that Professor McGonagall hadn't expelled him from Hogwarts. He was even more surprised that she had allowed him to remain on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Then again, there was no reason why he should have been expelled or removed from the team. The incident with the three bludgers had not been his fault at all. He just was sure she would have blamed him for it, no matter what.
After that last match, she had hauled both him and Will to her office to interrogate them about the innocent. Both had left feeling sure that she hadn't believed them, but then nothing had happened. They'd not gotten detention, had talking-tos by other teachers, or received Howlers from their parents. They'd not lost any privileges, been suspended, or gotten expelled.
Either Professor McGonagall didn't have sufficient evidence to punish them for the bludger incident––not that there would be any since they really hadn't been involved––or the real culprit had been discovered, but if that was the case, it had been hushed up to the point that there weren't even the slightest rumors about it.
Gerry supposed he ought to feel glad that he was still at Hogwarts and still allowed to play Quidditch. He closed in on Chloe, who had the quaffle. Chloe threw to Jordan when she felt Gerry get too close. He swiped out his arm to disrupt the pass but quickly withdrew it when a bludger nearly hit him. The bludger not only forced his arm back but also had him leaning backwards on his broomstick. He felt the whoosh of the ball as it passed across his chest.
Jordan, meanwhile, threw the ball to Seth. Seth cradled it close to his body and zoomed towards the hoops guarded by Oliver. Seth shot, but Oliver caught the quaffle outright. He handed it off to Finley, but she barely had possession of the ball before Seth yanked it from her arms again and attempted another goal. This time the ball hit the rim of a hoop and rebounded straight into Gerry's arms. He caught it securely, whipped around, and raced away from Oliver and the Gryffindor goal hoops.
Gerry threw a quick look over his shoulder to assess the positions of the opposing chasers and then looked for the beaters and the bludgers. He saw Noah strike one in his direction and dodged to avoid getting hit. Gerry then passed the quaffle overhand to Schuyler, who had pulled ahead of him and was flying at a good clip towards the Ravenclaw goal hoops. The din in the stadium grew louder as everyone anticipated what would happen next.
Competitive (Gideon & Seth)
Author: Blossom
Date: 04-06-19 19:06
As competitive as Gideon and Seth can be, they both hate being on opposing house teams. From time to time Gideon bemoans the fact that Seth is Ravenclaw and will wonder aloud if anyone's ever been allowed to switch houses or if Seth could be the first if they present their case properly. When he's going on like this Seth counters that maybe it's Gideon who should see about switching houses and come over to Ravenclaw. Gideon will make a face and say, "And get a reputation as a brain and be expected to study all the time? No thanks." Seth then laughs and replies, "You know, it probably would be easier to convince them to let me switch to Gryffindor instead of you to Ravenclaw." This will prompt Gideon to protest, "Hey! Are you saying I couldn't cut it as a Ravenclaw even if I worked hard?" Seth just gives him a smile and never responds to that.
Despite hating being on opposite house teams because they are competitive, neither Gideon nor Seth hold back anything when Gryffindor plays Ravenclaw. As Schuyler drives in to where Eileen tends the three hoops at her end of the pitch, Seth gets in close in an effort to steal the quaffle. Gideon does not hesitate to send a bludger sailing straight on course for his brother, clipping him on the shoulder. Though not a full on direct hit Seth's shoulder stings enough he slows without realizing it. When he does notice Schuyler pulling ahead Seth frowns, spurring his broom faster.
Gideon circles around to go after that same bludger but is forced to drop back from it when Kurt reaches it first. Anticipating Kurt sending the bludger to quaffle holding Schuyler, Gideon zooms ahead to get between Schuyler and the black ball. Additionally ruining Kurt's plan for the bludger Schuyler passes to Finley.
Gideon redirects the bludger towards Jordan, a difficult task as Jordan is flying erratically near Finley in an effort to slow her enough to make taking the quaffle away from her all the easier. Unfazed, Finley not only doesn't slow but actually speeds up, forcing Jordan to move or have her crash into him. Nearing Eileen, giving no indication she's planning to pass Finley throws to Gerry.
Taking advantage of the unexpected action, Gerry immediately hurls the quaffle at the center of one of the hoops. Eileen's still able to get to the quaffle in time to punch it back. The quaffle flies out at an angle that sends it to Schuyler and Seth. Gideon had sent a bludger into the flurry of action around the hoops. He couldn't have timed the ball better if he'd tried to plan it. The bludger bumps Seth, allowing Schuyler to catch the quaffle without Seth's hands reaching for it as well.
Taking quick aim Schuyler makes a goal attempt. Able to get to the other bludger before Noah, Cecily had sent it flying towards Eileen. Because it would have hit her in the face if she dove for the quaffle to stop its journey through the hoop, Eileen bends closer to her broom and leans somewhat to avoid the bludger, continuing to reach for the quaffle but her aim for the red ball is now slightly off. The quaffle soars through the hoop in a goal for Gryffindor. The first points of the match appear on the scored: Gryffindor 10 Ravenclaw 0.
(Chloe) Third Time's The Charm
Author: Mildred
Date: 04-07-19 07:18
Chloe frowned when the first goal of the match was scored. Gryffindor was ahead by ten points.
Eileen passed the quaffle to Jordan and he zig zagged to avoid Finley and Gerry. Chloe and Seth went right after him. Chloe shifted her broomstick to the right, to avoid a stray bludger. She then spotted Noah flying in its direction. She kept flying ahead, looking at Jordan from time to time. He had Schuyler in his tail and after covering a few more meters the Gryffindor chaser was right next to him. Feeling the pressure, Jordan passed the quaffle to Chloe. She grabbed it and kept pushing forward, her eyes already on Oliver's hoops.
Approaching the scoring area, she shifted her broom again, taking a diagonal course to cut some distance. Unfortunately Finley guessed her move and she flew right next to Chloe, not giving her any room to try and score. She knew Finley would block her attempt. She quickly weighted her options and ended up passing the quaffle to Seth, who was free. Seth aimed to the central hoop and made a powerful shot but Oliver defended it, holding the quaffle with both his hands.
He passed the quaffle to Gerry, and he flew away, the quaffle under his arm. He worked together with Finley and Schuyler, swapping the red ball between the three of them. This cycle was only broken when a bludger from Kurt hit Gerry's leg. He was holding the quaffle and did not let go of it, even with the impact. However his grip wasn't as strong and Seth was able to rip it off from his hands, after an ugly fight. Before Gerry could retaliate, Seth offered the quaffle to Jordan. Jordan then passed it to Chloe, and after gaining some more meters, she passed it back at Jordan. Now it were the Ravenclaw chasers that were swapping the quaffle at a fast speed, working their way back to Oliver's hoops. They did so after a few minutes, without the Gryffindors being able to stop them.
Jordan tried his luck, but Oliver defended it once again. He punched the quaffle away with a security that caused a wave of applauses in the stands. Chloe got the quaffle on the rebound and she too tried to score. But Oliver seemed to be unstoppable and he made another good defense. But the Ravenclaw chasers were not done yet. Seth got the quaffle on the second rebound, before Schuyler could reach it. He aimed to the left hoop. The quaffle still touched the tips of Oliver's fingers, but it finally crossed the hoops. The Ravenclaw supporters cheered.
"Weasley scores for Ravenclaw! The match is now tied, 10 points to each house."
(Noah) Beater Action
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 04-07-19 11:47
After Seth's goal, Noah focused his attention on stopping Gryffindor from getting very far with the quaffle. He raced for one of the available bludgers, twisted in his seat and swung his bat. The impact caused his whole arm to vibrate, and Noah watched with satisfaction as the bludger caught Gerry in the hip. Gerry's grip on the quaffle loosened enough for Seth to lift it, but then Finley was there, stealing the ball right back for Gryffindor.
The bludger he'd used on Gerry was now being controlled by Kurt to get to Finley, so Noah sought out the other one. He saw Gideon maneuver it towards Cecily, who batted it onwards at Chloe, who was getting too grabby with Finley. Finley switch arms at first and then lobbed the quaffle at Schuyler. A hefty breeze sent the ball flying a bit further than she intended, and Schuyler struggled to catch it. It touched his fingertips, but then Jordan was there to intercept it.
Jordan rocketed away with the quaffle, dodging Cecily's bludger and swerving around Leo as he systematically searched for the snitch. Noah and Gideon flew after the same bludger, with Gideon getting to it slightly faster. Noah's proximity to him made his swing awkward, though, and Noah was able to redirect the bludger himself, albeit rather awkwardly too.
Jordan passed the quaffle to Chloe, who passed to Seth. Seth drove hard at the goal hoops and let the red ball fly, but Oliver caught the ball outright. No way was he going to let the Ravenclaws get rebound after rebound and increase their changes of scoring again.
Oliver handed the quaffle to Finley. Noah spotted a bludger and zoomed towards it, ready to use it to get the quaffle back into Ravenclaw possession.
Scoring
Author: Finley
Date: 04-07-19 16:34
After accepting the quaffle from Oliver, Finley shot through an opening and quickly looked back to see who or what was in pursuit. She saw her fellow Gryffindor chasers quickly pulling up on either side and the Ravenclaws trying desperately to wedge themselves in between. The bludgers were both elsewhere at the moment, but Finley knew that wouldn't last.
She looked ahead, flattened herself against her broomstick, and whooshed through the air towards the Ravenclaw goal hoops. Finley didn't pay attention to anything but what lay dead ahead. She hadn't noticed if her friends were in the stands and wasn't sure she wanted their presence, since it would only serve to distract her.
Fortunately, she was fairly occupied and hardly gave them any thought. She flew quickly towards Eileen and threw the quaffle with spin. Eileen managed to knock it back, but Finley could see a red mark on the palm of her hand from the forceful throw. Finley caught the rebound and groaned when something slammed into her shoulder, but fortunately, her throwing arm wasn't affected. Finley tried for another goal the same time the other bludger came careening towards Eileen. Eileen tried to dodge the bludger and block the goals at the same time, but she only succeeded at one.
"Pride scores!" shouted the announcer. "Gryffindor leads 20-10."
Eileen scooped up the quaffle and tossed it to Seth. Seth threw it to Chloe, who started to throw to Jordan but hesitated when Finley threw herself in between them. Finley's shoulder was still throbbing but not enough to hinder her performance on the field. Chloe ended up throwing back to Seth, who tried to get out of the fray to put some distance between himself and his house's goals, but to no avail. Schuyler and Gerry had him hemmed in.
A bludger at them all scattering. Finley took the opportunity to swipe at the quaffle. She didn't get it for herself, but she did manage to dislodge it from Seth's grasp. The ball fell, and all six chasers dove to get to it first.
Another Goal (Schuyler)
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 04-08-19 20:18
Gerry got to the quaffle first but Jordan was right there to knock it out of the Gryffindor's hand. Gerry and Jordan both fumbled to get it but in the effort to grab it the quaffle got knocked away from Gerry and Jordan. Seth reached for it but Schuyler got a hand on it and snatched it away. He tossed it underhand to Finley, flinching when Chloe nearly intercepts the pass.
Finley shoots away with the other chasers close around her. Schuyler maneuvers between Finley and Chloe when Chloe once more tries to get the quaffle from Finley. With the way Chloe keeps reaching across to Finley in an effort to pluck the quaffle away Schuyler has to be careful not to foul the Ravenclaw chaser when he moves in between her and Finley.
On Finley's other side are Jordan and Seth. When Finley passes forward to Gerry, Jordan darts ahead, grabbing the quaffle mid-flight. He jerks his broom around in a tight turn to jet back the other direction. Again careful not to foul Chloe, Schuyler whips his broom around, accelerating after Jordan once his broom is clear of both Chloe and Finley, who are just as rapidly angling their brooms to go back the other way.
Somehow, Seth not only got turned around quickly but has managed to get slightly ahead of Jordan. Jordan throws to Seth only to have Gerry come from out of nowhere to return the favor of interception. Just like that, in a blink Schuyler is whipping around again, putting his back to where Oliver is on high alert as Gryffindor's keeper and taking off for the hoops tended by Eileen.
Gerry flies straight for Eileen, never slowing until he's almost on top of her. Schuyler puts himself in front of a bludger hit by Kurt and meant for Gerry who has come to an abrupt halt at the same time he lets go of the quaffle. Finley works to keep both Seth and Chloe from interrupting the quaffle's flight while Gideon sends a bludger towards Eileen. Eileen tries to get to the quaffle to block the shot but even without Gideon's bludger which went a tiny bit wide its target, Gerry's goal is good.
Gryffindor now leads 30 to Ravenclaw's 10.
Snitch Sighting (Leo)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 04-09-19 10:47
Running fingers through his hair to push back hair he can't decide whether to trim or let grow out a little more, Leo slowly glides well below the level of most of the game action. He'd seen the snitch once early on but it was a literal blink and it's gone moment, so quick no one else knew he'd sighted it. As far as Leo knows if Bran has had any snitch encounters they have been as fleeting as his was.
Something just below and to the right catches Leo's eye. The snitch!
He executes a shallow dive after it, leveling off as the ball and he draw nearer to the ground. The snitch flits slowly off to the right with Leo spurring his broom slightly faster to follow. He closes the small gap, hand reaching out only to snatch back his arm when a bludger whizzes by, grazing the top of Leo's forearm.
The snitch has increased the distance between Leo and it so Leo speeds up a little more. Unfortunately, Bran knows that Leo is possibly close to nabbing the snitch. Leo accelerates even more, trying to get to the snitch before Bran arrives to vie for the winged ball. This plan goes by the wayside when another bludger again forces Leo to pull back or risk getting a clobbering.
Suppressing a sigh Leo leans low over his broom and doggedly gains even more speed to once again catch up to the snitch. Bran is coming at the snitch from a different direction, putting him on a somewhat perpendicular course to that of Leo's. All too aware of Bran's gaining ground, or would that be air?, Leo gains even more momentum in the hope of getting to the snitch before Bran AND getting the ball before Bran and he collide.
Next thing Leo knows he's on the ground looking up at blue sky, clouds, and one chaser passing the quaffle to another with a third chaser shooting between the two in an interception attempt. Beside him, Bran groans. Simultaneously they ask each other, "You okay?"
In the short time it takes for Leo to both sit up and answer, "I don't know," Coach Krum has halted the match and is on his way to ground level. Bran groans again. "I think your elbow caught me in the face."
Leo grins at the other seeker. "Yeah. You've a mark. It will be dark purple this time tomorrow." He rubs a spot on his back and side. "I think your knee or a foot caught me in the kidney."
By then Coach Krum is crouching between them, assessing for broken bones and concussions. Bran and Leo have aches and pains, cuts and scrapes but nothing truly serious. Thankfully, their brooms are unscathed.
Once the two seekers are back in the air, with no sign of the snitch anywhere, Coach Krum signals for the match to resume, Leo suppressing another sigh at having been so close to catching the snitch and winning the match for Gryffindor.
Game Over (Jordan, Kurt, & Bran)
Author: Saffron
Date: 04-09-19 19:17
During a time out Bran puts some ice on his swelling eye, the one that Leo accidentally hit when they'd collided. From the way Leo gingerly sits on his broom, Bran has to wonder if where he connected with Leo in the side and back hurt him worse in the kidney than Leo was willing to admit at the time to Coach Krum or if, like Bran's eye, the pain has grown since rejoining the match.
Jordan, meanwhile, is wondering how a spot on his leg looks. He's had a few bludger hits this match but one to his left shin still stings after probably three quarters of an hour or thereabouts and has a dull, throbbing ache. Though Kurt has no ache to wonder if he's got a blossoming bruise he does have a pain. A speck of dirt or dust or maybe even an eyelash got into one eye and since then the eye has watered making the vision in that eye blurry. Worse, either whatever it was scratched his eye or it's still in there. Nothing he's done, even dribbling water in it during the same time out Bran iced his eye, has helped. Kurt can't wait until the match ends when he can look at the eye in a mirror and determine if he needs someone else, such as Madam Pomfrey, to check it.
Blinking rapidly after a small gust of wind irritates his eye even more Kurt slows as he approaches a bludger. He double checks the location of his target - Finley - and taps the bludger rather than smash his bat against it. With interest he watches the black ball on its slightly curving trajectory, making a face when Cecily intercepts the ball and redirects the bludger towards Seth. As she does this Gideon sends the second bludger at Chloe. Kurt hustles to reach that one before it gets to Chloe but Noah is there first. Kurt slows to arc around to go back after the other one after Seth avoided the one Cecily sent his way.
Jordan zips in between Finley and Gerry to snatch the quaffle when Finley passes to Gerry. Schuyler's quickly on top of Jordan to get the quaffle back but the bludger Kurt sends catches Schuyler in the side, throwing off his timing just enough to allow Jordan to firm up his hold on the quaffle.
Jordan flies an erratic pattern in the direction Oliver awaits, making it harder for the Gryffindor chasers to get in close enough to try and steal the ball. He only begins flying a more regular pattern when he passes to Seth, who in turn throws the quaffle to Chloe. She darts to one side when Schuyler tries to jerk the ball from her grasp then shifts the quaffle to her other hand and passes it back to Seth.
Seth closes in on Oliver, arm coming up to throw the quaffle. A half second before he lets the ball go, Gideon gets him with a bludger. Already in the process of releasing the quaffle, though the bludger hit wasn't bad Seth's aim is off from the jar of it. Instead of going straight the quaffle veers slightly towards Oliver making it all the easier for the Gryffindor keeper to block the shot.
Oliver tries to knock the quaffle into Gerry's direction but Jordan gets to it. As quickly as he can he sends the quaffle in the direction of the hoops. This time Oliver can't get to it fast enough, his outstretched hand only skimming the ball's surface as it sails past.
At the same moment the announcer, Ollie Choate, excitedly declares, "Blackthorn scores for Ravenclaw! Gryffindor leads with three goals to Ravenclaw's two!" Bran sees the snitch. As happy as he is about that fact he's also unhappy that Leo saw it at roughly the same time he did. As they had earlier the two seekers converge on the small ball, the difference being that they are flying almost parallel this time rather than coming at the ball at about a ninety degree angle to each other.
As he nears the snitch Bran worries that his bad eye, almost entirely swollen shit at this point, is going to throw off his ability to gauge exactly where the snitch is relative to his extended hand. Despite all the other noise in the stadium and the air rushing in his ears, Bran can hear Leo groan as the Gryffindor seeker stretches to reach for the little winged orb, making him think Leo's back and side are not only horribly painful but resisting the effort needed to reach out and grab the snitch. Leo switches to reaching with the other hand, easing only slightly the strain on his injury but by that time it's too late. Bran's made a swipe at the snitch and with a triumphant whoop closes his hand around it, not opening his hand again until he feels the wings slow their fluttering against his palm.
Though obviously glum at the loss, Leo voices his congratulations as Ollie loudly reports the final score, "Ravenclaw wins with 170 points to Gryffindor's 30!"