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Hufflepuff VS Ravenclaw 2013
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 11-25-19 10:45
Theodosia looks to the stands then back at Viktor. "Guess I should go sit. I thought Zuberi and Olive were coming." Before he can reply she nods towards an area behind him. "There they are." She calls to Daniel Gelson who's talking with Marjani. "Let's head up."
She gives Viktor a peck, waves a finger at Marjani, then walks with Daniel to join Zuberi and Olive who are waiting near a set up steps up into the section of viewing stands where they usually sit. They smile and wave at Viktor and Marjani then follow Daniel and Dosie up the steps.
By his side now Marjani says, "She's really wanting to help call today's match."
"I know but she also knows it's best to sit this one out." They've just confirmed that Theodosia is pregnant. Given she's older for a first pregnancy and in the earliest stage her healer recommended she avoids flying.
"Other than a Krum's Completely Quidditch gift certificate what did you decide for your Secret Santa recipient? Schuyler Weasley, right?"
Viktor nods that she is correct. "Have you seen those games with a hole in a board to toss a small bean filled or rice filled bag through?"
"I've played a few times."
"I found one set that's painted for Gryffindor and Slytherin and a similar but slightly different set with Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Each has three Quidditch hoops with the center one having the hole. The boards can be used full sized for an outdoor match or spelled down to fit on a tabletop. Schuyler can mix them if he wants or play all four during a match."
"I hope you got me some, though I don't necessarily need them painted as Hogwarts houses."
They chuckle at this just as Barbie Bones welcomes everyone to the pitch. When the initial cheering at her greeting subsides, Barbie announces the two teams playing today, starting with Ravenclaw and then introduces the Hufflepuff team. Playing today are Ravenclaw's Bran Hyland, Kurt Blackwell, Noah Stratford, Eileen McCourt, Chloe Campbell, Jordan Blackthorn, and Seth Weasley. For Hufflepuff are Bertie Nutcombe, Conrad Ellis, Tessa Filby, Rex Applewhite, Kaycee Sickleby, Alex Lancaster, and Cornington Marchbanks.
The two captains, Tessa and Kurt, meet Viktor for him to give the usual play a good match spiel. They shake hands then within seconds the match has begun with all six chasers converging on the quaffle.
(Noah & Sophia) Match
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 11-25-19 18:41
Last weekend while in Hogsmeade, Noah had managed to find Christmas gifts for everyone on his list, including his Secret Santa recipient, Amethyst Hodfuffer. It just so happened that Amethyst was Sophia's roommate, but Noah hadn't bothered asking her what to get. Knowing Sophia, she would either tell him something way off base and make him look a fool, or she wouldn't try to help him at all.
Noah almost asked to speak to one of the owners of the Crown & Cauldron, because he knew they were related to Amethyst, and maybe one of them could point him in the right direction. In the end, Noah found the gift on his own. It was a bit obvious, but the price had been right, and he had a feeling Amethyst would like it, though he hoped she didn't already have one.
It was a necklace with an amethyst pendant shaped like a flower.
The start of the Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had been rather uneventful. Ravenclaw got the quaffle first, lost it to Hufflepuff a short time later, but then Ravenclaw regained possession. This back and forth seemed neverending, with neither team getting any where near the opposition's hoops.
But then things started to change, with Ravenclaw managing to hold on to the quaffle for longer than a few passes. The six chasers were still very much grouped together though, making this new progress somewhat slow. A bludger looked to break the group apart, though.
Noah hastened to throw himself between Conrad's bludger and Seth, who had possession of the quaffle but couldn't easily rid of himself of it just yet. Alex was pressed closely to his other side and Cornington was just ahead of him, deliberately blocking Seth's path. Noah very nearly launched himself off his broom to protect Seth from the bludger-hit, but he managed to stay put though his deflection of the bludger was weak. It glanced off Noah's bat and didn't get too far before Conrad was there on the spot to try hitting Seth all over again.
Fortunately for Seth, Alex was forced to peel away from him when Kurt aimed the other bludger at him. Seth launched the ball to Chloe, who hurled it forwards to Jordan. Conrad redirected the bludger he wanted to hit Seth with and aimed for Jordan instead. Noah quickened his pace, hoping to overcome it, but he wasn't fast enough. Luckily, Kurt was there to knock the bludger away from Jordan. Conrad tried to intercept it again, but Noah cut across his path and started to swing his bat, when all of a sudden, someone bonked his arm from behind.
It swung forward, and though Noah managed to maintain his grip on his bat rather than send it flying and hurt somebody with the projectile, his arm came all the way around and whacked him across his opposite pectoral and upper arm.
"Aaarghh!" Noah uncontrollably exclaimed. That was going to leave a mark!
In the stands, Sophia began to laugh. Unlike Noah, she hadn't been able to conduct any Christmas shopping in Hogsmeade last weekend, because she was still too young to visit the village. Instead, she'd had to make do with perusing catalogs and making purchases by owl.
Her Secret Santa recipient was classmate Alectrona Nintwinty-Flister. Sophia thought Alectrona was a bit of an odd duck and didn't know what to get her at first, but then she saw a listing of tights in various colors and patterns and decided to go for it. The package had arrived yesterday and was now gift-wrapped and under the tree in the Commons.
First Goal Of The Match (Weasley Triplets)
Author: Blossom
Date: 11-25-19 20:57
Seth makes a noise with his lips that Larkin says sounds like his mouth is farting. Hufflepuff has gotten the quaffle again. He darts in between Alex and Kaycee, throwing himself to one side in an effort to intercept a pass from Kaycee to Alex. He nearly has it but Tessa clips him with a bludger, knocking his hand back from the quaffle.
Alex approaches Eileen, who has her eyes on the quaffle but periodically flicks them to check for bludgers. He throws the ball but she's able to bat it away. Seth scrabbles for it but it's either let Kaycee have it or ram her with his broom. He can't risk that sort of foul so Kaycee grabs up the quaffle, immediately searching for the best path to send the ball on to score a goal.
Eileen swivels around, darting from one end hoop to the other, one hand reaching out to stop the quaffle. She's nearly there and even gets fingers on the ball but it's not quite enough for the necessary force to send the quaffle back the other direction. Barbie Bones sounds far too cheerful and gleeful to Seth's ears as she announces, "Sickleby scores for Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff leads 10 to 0."
The quaffle retrieved, Eileen tosses it to Chloe who, in turn, passes to Jordan. Seth angles around to get into a good position to either accept a pass or to assist Jordan should he need. As he slows he catches sight of the person for whom he's Secret Santa this year. Seth is a fourth year Ravenclaw. Sylvestor Trainor is a sixth year Slytherin. Normally, Seth wouldn't know Sylvestor other than maybe someone to sometimes play chess or another game with in the commons or pick-up Quidditch games but because Sylvestor is a Quidditch player for Slytherin, Seth knows him somewhat.
The Secret Santa present for Sylvestor now under the tree in the commons is a large box wrapped with paper covered with little figures running around throwing snowballs at each other. In the deceptively sized box is a small gift, a golden snitch shaped pocket watch, an homage to Sylvestor's position as Slytherin seeker.
Gideon also knows the person he's got for Secret Santa because of Quidditch but he also knows Charlotte Stratford because she's sort of like a sister to Grace Valentine, who is a cousin to his cousins. He's known her for practically forever. Somehow, that did not make buying a gift for her any easier. He ended up trying to approach the gift buying by wondering if Larkin, Miranda, and Grace would all three like something. This led Gideon to getting a "cat" jacket for Charlotte. He carried the cat theme over to the gift wrap. It's got kittens playing with round ornaments off the trees decorating the paper.
Larkin is Secret Santa this year to Elmer McCourt. She knows him a little though she wonders if she would at all if he wasn't in Gryffindor like she is. One of the few things she knows about Elmer without having to ask is that he desperately wants to play Quidditch and other sports and to be allowed to take Fitness & Athletics. Apparently, he's barred from these things because he's considered to be a "sickly child" or so that's how Aunt Majandra once phrased it to her.
Deciding that Elmer might like a challenge Larkin's gotten him three different puzzles. One is called a Rubix Cube, another is a Rubix Cube Star, and the third is in the shape of a pyramid. For all three the goal is to rearrange the colors then try to arrange them back. Though the idea behind the three is the same, because of the different shapes Larkin hopes each will provide Elmer with unique challenges. She's had the gift for a week but only wrapped it last night, using paper with festive dancing snow people, and placed the present under the tree in the commons this morning.
Conrad, Blakeney, and Alys in or at the Match
Author: Ellis
Date: 11-26-19 18:42
Conrad bopped the bludger to Tessa, who gave it a much firmer whack at Jordan. Jordan loosed the quaffle to Seth and swerved at Chloe's warning to avoid getting hit by the black ball. Conrad and Kurt raced to get the ball, but Kurt was in a much better position to get it and used it against Alex, who was drawing very close to Seth.
Seth switched the quaffle from one arm to the next and then handed the red ball to Chloe when she darted past him. Conrad, having intercepted the bludger meant for Alex, knocked it again towards Tessa. Tessa, better positioned to get Chloe, struck the bludger and sent it straight into Chloe's side.
Chloe fumbled the quaffle, but Seth was right there to recover it for Ravenclaw. He drove hard for the Hufflepuff goal hoops and fired the quaffle at the right-most hoop, but Eileen managed to get her fingers on it. It rebounded off her outstretched hand and was scooped up by Alex.
Conrad had taken advantage of Belinda's band practice last weekend to get her a Christmas gift, as well as to get a present for his Secret Santa person. Surprisingly, he'd gotten the same person as in his first year, Seth's brother Gideon. Last time, Conrad gifted Gideon Gryffindor high top shoes. This time Conrad went with the same theme, only he picked out two T-shirts instead.
Cheering Conrad and Tessa on from the Hufflepuff section of the stands, Blakeney brushed some snow off her shoulders and thought some hot cocoa would be nice. She didn't feel like traipsing down and up the stairs, though, so she'd probably have to find a minion to do it.
While in Hogsmeade with Tessa last weekend, Blakeney had found a gift for her Secret Santa person. This year, she had Harley Croft, a Slytherin girl the same age as the twins. The twins hadn't been very helpful in providing Blakeney any insight into what Harley liked, so she chose a pretty dress for the girl.
Alys, meanwhile, sat in the Ravenclaw stands with Chip, who stood out like a sore thumb in his Hufflepuff gear. He didn't want to sit with Blakeney, since she was best friends with his ex. He'd rather get hassled by the Ravenclaws, who truly weren't that mean.
Alys had done shopping in Hogsmeade last weekend, but she'd also helped out at Dominic Maestro's some. While there, she picked up a Secret Santa gift for Jaclyn Rex. It was a really pretty ukulele with cherry blossoms painted on it. Alys didn't know if Jaclyn was musical or cared to learn an instrument, but a ukulele was a fairly straightforward string instrument. Anyway, Alys would be happy to help Jaclyn learn how to play.
Another Goal (Cornington)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 11-27-19 14:55
Cornington turns slightly at the hips in preparation of catching a pass from Alex. He's reaching out when a bludger hit by Noah smacks his hand. The hit stings but doesn't otherwise hurt. What hurts is the quaffle sailing past the hand that's no longer there and hitting his chin full on. At least a quaffle isn't as hard as a bludger.
Somehow Cornington is able to grab the quaffle with his other hand before it drops away. He takes half a second to improve his hold on the ball before increasing speed, flying in a straight line for Eileen, who's currently dead ahead. She's ready for him so rather than do the expected and execute a goal attempt, Cornington hands off to Kaycee. Kaycee immediately lobs the quaffle to Alex. Kurt has sent a bludger but Cornington puts himself between it and Alex, grunting at the impact against his side.
While Cornington is using his body to bock a bludger Conrad is busy sending the other the second bludger towards Eileen. The bludger connects but Eileen is still able to reach the quaffle Alex has thrown. She slaps the quaffle with the palm of one hand, knocking the red ball back. Seth grabs the quaffle only to immediately lose it when in turning his broom he and Kaycee bump. She takes advantage of Seth's fumble and snatches up the quaffle.
Kaycee's poorly position to even try for a goal so she hurls it back to Alex who once more lets the quaffle fly towards one of the rings. Eileen gets a hand on it again but she's awkwardly position to properly move the quaffle back the way it came. The red ball instead bangs against the rim of the hoop, Eileen reaching again for it but it hits the rim a second time, bouncing at an odd angle, going up and onward moving fully through the hoop.
Barbie Bones announces, "GOOOOAL! Lancaster scores for Hufflepuff. The Badgers lead 20 to 0!"
Cornington flashes a smile at Eileen. The smile is somehow both victorious and empathetic. He flashes another smile at Conrad, careful to avoid his teammates bat as Conrad approaches one of the bludgers. Several times during practices since the Secret Santa name draw he's come close to asking Conrad for suggestions on what to get one of Conrad's siblings. Gavin is one of the two newest Ellises to Hogwarts. At first, Cornington thought Gavin and the other new to Hogwarts Ellis, Haley, are twins but Conrad mentioned awhile back that Gavin's birthday falls after September 1st so he turned 11 last year after the deadline so was forced to wait and enter at the same time as younger sister Haley.
Cornington had gotten a couple of items last week in Hogsmeade so ultimately decided just to go with what he'd gotten rather than ask Conrad, or even Patricia with whom Cornington has classes, for ideas. The two items he'd gotten are ones Cornington thinks an 11 - or make that 12 by now - year old boy would like. They're ones he'd have liked at that age anyway. One is called Candy Chemistry. It's a kit for making candies using potions and apothecary and alchemical means. The other item is a chess set made entirely of chocolate. Gavin can play chess with it or eat it.
Racing forward to try and intercept a pass from Seth to Chloe, Cornington's still smiling mouth turns down slightly at coming so close to the quaffle he feels its passing brush his fingertips. So close but all he can do now is maneuver his broom to close in on Chloe to watch for another chance to try and steal the ball.
Kaycee - Bludger Hit and Goal
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 11-28-19 06:43
While in Hogsmeade last weekend with Chip, Kaycee picked up a few supplies to care for her flute. Professor Flitwick had successfully reversed the jinx on her instrument, but Kaycee never found out who had tampered with it. She had her guesses, of course, but no proof.
Also while in Hogsmeade, Kaycee bought Christmas gifts, among them a few things for Bran Hyland, her Secret Santa recipient. Kaycee knew Bran because of Quidditch. He was a Ravenclaw set to graduate at the end of the school year.
One of the pop-up vendors in the village sold hand-carved wooden items, including games and toys of the brain teaser variety. Kaycee bought one and got another free in a promotion the vendor had going. Hopefully, Bran would like the gifts, but Kaycee knew one thing he wouldn't like: Hufflepuff's defeat of Ravenclaw in the match currently underway!
Chloe had the quaffle but was looking to pass it to Jordan, because Cornington was at her side, trying to interfere. Kaycee saw an opening and darted forward, hoping to intercept Chloe's pass. Chloe started to throw but saw Kaycee coming and held back. She was forced to swerve away from Cornington when Conrad's bludger set her in its sights.
In the course of Chloe's swerve, Kaycee reached out and tried to grab the ball. Chloe's grip was firm enough that Kaycee couldn't steal it outright, but she nevertheless managed to get Chloe to fumble it. She scrambled to catch it, while Kaycee surged forward to catch it herself.
She was suddenly buffeted forwards when a bludger hit her squarely between the shoulder blades. Kaycee wrapped her arms around the quaffle and groaned, but she knew she would leave herself open to more trouble if she remained a sitting duck, so she gritted her teeth, whirled her broomstick around, and quickly tossed the ball at Cornington when she saw he was open to accept her pass.
Cornington raced ahead and then threw the ball to Alex. Alex passed it back to Cornington. The two passed the ball between each other until Kaycee caught up to them. Eileen eyed them closely, trying to guess which chaser would attempt a goal. It was Alex, who came up from the left but aimed for the right hoop. Eileen knocked it back at the same angle. Alex caught the rebound and this time aimed for the hoop in front of him. Eileen predictably dove for it, but before the quaffle left his fingers, Alex shot it at Kaycee, who flung it at the right hoop again. The quick movement strained the sore muscles in her back, but Kaycee was pleased to see that she got the ball dead center through the hoop.
"Sickleby scores again!" Barbie shouted. "Hufflepuff leads, 30-0!"
Back To Back Goals (Jordan, Rex, Kurt)
Author: Saffron
Date: 11-28-19 19:21
Jordan keeps telling himself that Ravenclaw doesn't have to score a single goal as long as the team keeps Hufflepuff to fourteen goals or less and Bran catches the snitch. That doesn't mean he would ever want to have that happen. He can't even imagine how horrible it would be to have his team not score a single goal while the other team managed goal after goal. The only way he could see that happening would be for the keeper, currently Eileen, to be knocked out of the match or for two of the chasers to go. Something extreme like that.
Shoving such thoughts aside he steers around Noah going after a bludger then accelerates to close the distance with Seth who then passes the quaffle to him. Jordan speeds up more. He sees Tessa bat a bludger that seems to be coming straight for him. He alters course then seeing Chloe open he sends the quaffle on to her. Chloe sprints the short distance to Rex and his rings, braking sharply and pivoting her broom, arm raised as if to throw the quaffle at one of the three rings. Instead, she tosses the ball to Jordan who rapidly fires off a shot. Rex had been so expecting the quaffle to be coming from Chloe and had been perfectly positioned to block anything she sent at him. With the unexpected pass to Jordan, Rex isn't able to reposition as quickly as needed. The quaffle zips past his outstretched hand just out of reach.
"Blackthorn scores for Ravenclaw! Hufflepuff still leads with 30 to 10!"
Rex hands the quaffle to Kaycee who puts it back into play with a pass to Alex. Jordan pulls up near Alex, watching for an opportunity to steal. In response, the Hufflepuff chaser shifts the quaffle to his other hand. Cornington is open so Alex throws the ball to him but before it reaches Cornington a bludger Kurt had hit forces him to veer just enough he misses the catch. Seth swoops in, grabs up the quaffle, then makes a beeline back to where Rex has gone back on high alert.
Kaycee hustles to get between Cornington and Rex but Cornington manages to get off a shot anyway. Rex deflects the quaffle away from the center ring but the ball goes straight to Chloe. A bludger from Noah assists Chloe's goal effort by hitting Rex in the shoulder on the arm he's using to reach for the quaffle. The blow is just enough to push Rex's shoulder back, which in turn pulls on his arm. The quaffle gets by him, soaring cleanly through the ring.
Barbie loudly proclaims, "Goal for Campbell! The score now stands at 30 to 20, Hufflepuff's favor!"
Kurt is stoked that Ravenclaw is now within 20 points of Hufflepuff. He slows as he approaches a bludger, angling his broom, body, and bat to better send the hard black ball on a trajectory to collide with the current quaffle holder, Alex. Spotting the other bludger, he goes after it, not watching to see if the one he'd just hit was on target.
If Kurt had watched it he would have seen that because Alex had sped up the bludger tapped the tail of his broom just as he was throwing the quaffle to Kaycee. The jolt to his broom nearly caused Alex to collide with Conrad who'd come racing that way to get to the bludger. Collision avoided and quaffle successfully passed, Conrad went after the bludger to send it on to Seth while Alex sprinted away to get into a position to help Kaycee if he's able.
Seeing Tessa has reached the bludger he's after Kurt slows down, trying to determine where she's going to send it. He guesses Chloe since Conrad's just sent the other after Seth and it's Chloe who's positioned between Kaycee and Cornington, keeping Kaycee from being able to pass the quaffle on to her teammate.
Kurt heads in Chloe's direction, thinking to intercept Tessa's bludger only to realize he guessed wrong. He pours on speed trying to get between Tessa's bludger and Jordan, relieved when he makes it in time. As he's diverting that bludger, Noah's gone after the other, which Conrad has again sent after Seth.
Seth's sister is who Kurt has for Secret Santa. For some reason Larkin's name makes Kurt think of birds, maybe because Larkin sounds like lark. In Hogsmeade last weekend, Kurt found himself looking for bird themed items but nothing jumped out at him as being what he thinks of as a lark. What he did find were some earrings with cardinals on them and a coin purse that also has a cardinal. After a great deal of thought, before leaving Hogsmeade Saturday evening, Kurt bought for Larkin both the earrings and the coin purse.
Kaycee has successfully passed to Cornington who is again drawing near where Eileen guards the rings rising up behind her. Not wanting Hufflepuff to scores again, Kurt hurries to get to a bludger to help his team's keeper prevent Hufflepuff from making another goal.
So Close [Bertie]
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 11-28-19 20:57
Bertie comes to a full stop, hovering for a moment, massaging the bridge of his nose. Over the last few minutes a monstrous sinus type headache has come on. It's making him want to lie down and close his eyes. He does close his eyes for a few seconds, pressing fingers across his brow above one eye. Making himself open his eyes he takes a deep breath and puts his broom back into motion. Right. There's nothing for it but to find that snitch.
As is somehow hearing his thoughts the snitch appears, flitting in front of Bertie just beyond his broom. He blinks a couple of times in surprise and rubs the bridge of his nose again, wondering if the headache is worse than he thought and causing hallucinations.
In case he's not imagining things Bertie starts after the snitch as it meanders ahead of him. He closes the gap, near enough to extend his hand and grab the snitch when the winged ball simultaneously speeds up and zags to one side. Bertie jerks his broom that direction, doing a sort of half-barrel roll in the process. The sudden jerky movement combined with the roll gets Barbie's attention.
"Nutcombe may be onto the snitch!"
Crap. Now Bran knows.
Despite his quick effort Bertie's movements had not put him closer to the snitch and because of another change of direction the winged ball has increased the distance between it and Bertie. With Bran on his way, something Bertie would know even he couldn't see Bran coming directly towards him, he's not got much time. Bertie goes low over his broom while better lining up on the snitch's path. He speeds up, arm stretch out, hand reaching. The way the ball is going Bran can stop and literally let the snitch come to him, which is along the lines of what Bran does.
Bran slows so he's not flying top speed while on a head on collision course with Bertie. He also shifts his broom a little to one side so they aren't directly head on but would still knock against each other. He too goes low over his broom, hand outstretched.
Bertie flinches and grimaces as he watches a bludger from Tessa smack Bran off course. He doesn't have any time at all to rejoice in the seconds the hit might have gained him because he's also smacked off course. He doesn't know if the bludger was sent by Noah or by Kurt. The hit made him lose track of the snitch and as he searches for it again, eyes darting left, right, up, down, Bertie knows that it doesn't matter who sent the bludger. All that matters is he no longer sees the snitch and from the way Bran is behaving he's certain the Ravenclaw seeker has lost sight of it as well.
Fingers return to massaging the bridge of his nose as Bertie tries not to think about how close he'd been to ending the match and being able to go take something for this headache.
(Tessa) Trick
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 11-29-19 07:46
Although Hufflepuff still led in points, had Bran beat out Bertie for the snitch, then it would have been all over for Hufflepuff. Tessa was so very glad that her bludger knocked Bran off his course, but she was sorry that Bertie seemed to have also lost sight of the snitch.
Cornington, in possession of the quaffle, flew just ahead of Alex and Kaycee, who flanked his either side. They cut through the drifting snow like a pointed arrow, but then Cornington dropped back to fly in line with his teammates.
Tessa flew at a sharp angle behind the row of chasers and deflected Kurt's bludger, sending it far and wide so that he or Noah would have to make a chore of retrieving it. Conrad, meanwhile, covered the advancing chasers' front.
Cornington threw the quaffle to Alex, who threw overhand to Kaycee. Kaycee threw to Cornington who tossed it right back to her. Then Kaycee threw overhand to Alex. The expert passing was something they had practiced extensively and the randomness of it was supposed to keep the opposing chasers guessing.
Alex broke the passing game by suddenly falling back and then speeding up at an incline, so that he flew over Cornington. He simulated dropping the ball into Cornington's arms. Seth, Chloe, and Jordan converged on Cornington and then turned their attentions on Alex, when they realized they had been duped.
They were all the more surprised when Kaycee hurled the quaffle at the goal hoops, getting it past a confused Eileen, who had focused all her attention on Cornington.
"What a trick!" Barbie exclaimed. "Sickleby fools everyone and scores for Hufflepuff. Nicely done! Hufflepuff leads, 40-20."
(Chloe) Eager to Score
Author: Mildred
Date: 11-29-19 12:32
Ravenclaws were supposed to be the brightest people at Hogwarts. Chloe wasn't feeling very bright, and she imagined the rest of the team were feeling exactly the same after they were all tricked into thinking Cornington had the quaffle, when Kaycee was the one who had it.
Eileen quickly resumed the match, offering the quaffle to Seth, after Kaycee had scored. He gained some altitude, trying to get a clean path towards Rex's hoops. Unfortunately that did not work very well because Bran and Bertie were flying in the opposite direction, in the pursuit of the snitch. The crowd was roaring with excitiment, as Barbie Bones narrated the event. In order to avoid a crash, Seth quickly turned the cable of his broom down. Since the attention was now in the seekers, the chasers played with less pressure, as almost no one was looking at them.
Seth offered the quaffle to Chloe, when Alex approached him. Chloe keept pushing forward, holding the quaffle tight under her left arm. Kaycee got closer to her, and she used her hand to try and push the red ball out of Chloe's arm. After a first attempt the ball did not move, but Kaycee insisted and Chloe felt the quaffle moving a few inches under her arm. Another try and she knew she would loose the quaffle. She looked around, trying to locate either Jordan or Seth. They were both being heavily covered by Alex and Cornington respectively. Chloe tried to speed up, but Kaycee easily matched her velocity. She tried again to take the quaffle, and when she did so, Chloe felt the red ball flying off her arm. However she leaned forward and grabbed it again. Kaycee tried to grab it too, and they had to fight for it.
Meanwhile Barbie announced that the snitch was out of sight one more time and she continued to narrate the rest of the match action. Jordan was able to get rid of Cornington and Chloe passed the quaffle to him. He then shot it at Seth. Alex tried to catch it in the air, but he was forced to retreat when Kurt shot a bludger in his direction. Alex did not risk to take the quaffle, since his team was still leading the match. Seth secure the quaffle's possession. The Ravenclaw chasers were now very close to Rex's hoops eager to score again, but so were Hufflepuff ones, ready to support their keeper and try to prevent them to score.
As she waited to see what Seth was going to do next, Chloe spared a moment to think about her Secret Santa. This year she got another teacher, this time Professor Weasley. Chloe was in her Potions class and she had some classes with her daughter Miranda. Last year she didn't have any money with her so she baked her Secret Santa, Professor Miller, some cookies. This year, she had told her mother about Secret Santa and she asked her for some money. Her mother gave her Muggle money, that she brought with her to Hogwarts. Alectrona and Ruth had helped her to change the Muggle money for wizard currency. It was the first time Chloe owned wizard money and if gave her a feeling of power. She hoped her father would never find out, because she knew he wouldn't approved that she had such money with her. She decided to offer Professor Weasley a set of relaxing scented Christmas candles, which she ordered by catalog. The scents were called 'The Perfect Tree', 'Christmas Magic', 'Spiced White Cocoa' and 'Crackling Wood Fire'. Chloe hoped she would like them.
(Eileen) Lack of Confidence
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 11-29-19 13:21
Eileen was feeling frustrated with herself because she had let Hufflepuff score four times. She was pretty sure this was her worst performance ever. Maybe she was being harsh on herself, but she couldn't help herself to be feeling responsible for what was happening at the match so far.
She was actually relieved to see the quaffle far away. Seth had passed the red ball to Chloe, who then passed it to Jordan. He aimed at the left hoop. Rex was located at the right one, but he made a fantastic flight, stretching every inch of his body, in order for his hand to reach the quaffle. He succeeded and made a magnificent defense. Eileen frowned. It had seemed like an impossible save. Alex got the quaffle and tried to escape his team's hoops. Chloe was right next to him, and he offered the quaffle to Cornington, who was free. Seth, who had been near him, was hit on his back by a bludger sent by Conrad. It wasn't a hard hit, but Seth was left behind with the surprised of the impact. Cornington flied alone for a while. Noah sent him a bludger, but Tessa used her bat to change its direction, so the Hufflepuff chaser escaped without a scratch. Cornington was flying very fast. Eileen had her eyes fixated on the quaffle. She was determined not to be tricked again. It wasn't very probable that the Hufflepuff chasers would try such move again, but still she decided to be prepared for it.
Cornington dropped the quaffle to Kaycee who had positioned herself right below him. She held the red ball tight, but she was soon cornered by Jordan who bravely stood in front of her. In order to avoid a collision, Kaycee abruptly turned left, only to face Chloe. She tried to go right, and there was Seth. Wherever direction she tried to go, the Ravenclaw chasers were all over her. It was three against one. However that meant Cornington and Alex were both free, but Kaycee was still having a hard time in trying to find the right space to make a safe pass to one of her team mates. The trap was only dissolved when a bludger was sent, courtesy of Tessa, forcing Seth to abandon his position.
Gaining more space Kaycee offered the quaffle to Alex. Eileen sensed he was going to try and score. However she guessed it wrongly. Alex did get closer to her hoops but instead of aiming the quaffle at the hoops, he offered it to Cornington. Cornington shot, aiming for the central hoop. Eileen went after the quaffle, her heart racing. She could not fail this defense. It would look embarrassing if she did so. After suffering four goals she was starting to loose confidence in herself. She flied as fast as she could and she was able to make a defense.
"McCourt secures the quaffle!" Barbie Bones shouted.
Eileen passed the quaffle to Jordan, and he watched the chasers flying away from her, relieved she was able to stop this Hufflepuff attack. Her confidence in her skills was quite low today.
Fleeting Thought (Alex and Dolly)
Author: Plum
Date: 11-29-19 18:28
Hufflepuff may be up by twenty but the only reason to slack at this point would be if Bran is injured badly enough to be forced from the game. The chasers, beaters, and keepers on both teams could relax a little waiting for Bertie to capture the snitch. Alex thinks another reason for taking it easy would be if one team was able to run up the score enough that it wouldn't matter if the other team's seeker caught the snitch. He did read about a scandal years ago when two chasers and a beater on a professional team accepted money to slack off just enough to appear to be playing to win but were actually allowing the other team to score goal after goal. The three weren't convincing enough. The head referee stopped the match less than an hour in. As everyone else had noticed something was "off" about how the three were playing they ended up quickly confessing. The three never played professionally again nor would anyone hire them as coaches. Each of the three had been approached anonymously so none were able to say who'd paid them.
Seth has the quaffle now, flying at an angle from near the sidelines to the line of three rings tended by Rex. Alex moves to cut him off. He's almost to a position that would force Seth to either pass, thereby giving an opportunity to intercept, or possibly cause a foul. His plan comes to a halt when a bludger from Noah hits him on one scapula hard enough that Alex and his broom spin around. In the short time it takes to get his broom's movement back under control Seth has lobbed the quaffle to Chloe.
Chloe shifts her grip on the quaffle to go from catching the ball to throwing it. Rex throws himself sideways, one-handedly swatting the quaffle away. Jordan and Kaycee tussle for it with Jordan jerking it out of Kaycee's reach then tossing it in the direction of one of the rings. The throw isn't that good, without a lot of force behind it. This makes it easy for Rex to again keep the quaffle from passing through a ring.
This time Seth and Alex both go for the rebound, clunking heads as they do. Alex also takes another bludger, this one from Kurt, allowing Seth to grab up the quaffle. He throws towards the nearest hoop, a bludger from Noah assisting to keep Rex from fully blocking the quaffle's progress.
"Weasley scores! That's 30 now for Ravenclaw but Hufflepuff still leads with 40!"
Flying to get into position to accept the quaffle from Rex, Alex passes Noah, who's on his way to get that bludger he'd just batted, and for a quarter second has the unsportsmanlike thought that he's sending back the Secret Santa gift he's gotten for Noah and getting him a box of air instead. It's a fleeting thought but Alex does get a chuckle out of imagining someone's expression at opening a Christmas gift to find just a box of air.
What Alex got Noah and what he is still giving him - he's got to wrap it before putting it under the tree in the Commons - is a strategy board game called Eclipse. He really hopes Noah likes it!
In the stands, sipping a hot chocolate, Dolly leans in close to better hear Becky only to snicker at being told, "You've a spot of whipped cream on your nose and another on your chin."
Dolly can see how she'd have gotten some on her nose but on her chin? She grins at Becky as she wipes first her chin, then her nose. "That get it?"
"Yes. Oh, what did you decide on Secret Santa?"
"To give her that shirt." Dolly has Zabrynna Ravensdale, their History of Magic professor, for this year's gift exchange. Over summer holiday she'd seen Professors Ravensdale and Douglass in Diagon Alley. Both were dressed casually in blue jeans and t-shirts. When looking through catalog after catalog for Christmas presents, she'd found one for a history teacher. After debating whether to get it or not, Dolly finally decided that of the items she'd earmarked as possibles for Secret Santa, she liked the shirt the best.
Becky peers down into her own cup. "I think I want more. As long as I'm going, do you want anything else?"
"No, I'm good thanks."
Without Becky to talk to for the time being, Dolly gives all her attention to the match, cheering loudly for Alex when he flies by her section of stands.
Absurdity (Bran)
Author: Saffron
Date: 11-29-19 21:01
Dressed warmly under his uniform, charmed hand warmers in his game gloves, and feeling pretty good though his nose has gotten red and running from flying through the chill air, Bran is fine that the match is still going on. He'd have loved to have caught the snitch each time it's been sighted but since he hasn't so far, he's having fun and he's comfortable despite the frigid weather.
Something catches his eye off to his left. Swinging his broom that direction Bran sees nothing that flying or floating or hovering. He swivels his head when again off to his left he senses motion. Again he sees nothing.
Bran goes absolutely still, not even breathing. When the impression of movement flutters into his periphery on the left Bran slowly breathes in then out, telling himself to be patient. He remains motionless waiting for the snitch, if it is the snitch, to come more fully into view. Or so he hopes it will move where he can verify that whatever keeps making him think something in motion. It could very well go a direction he can't see from where he's hovering.
Just as the something finally is where he can confirm it is the snitch Bertie spots it as well. He risks a glance at Bertie to find the Hufflepuff seeker is doing the same at him. They simultaneously burst away from their respective positions, converging on the snitch, neither now risking looking away from it.
The snitch drops straight down as if it's lost the ability to remain in the air and gravity has taken ahold. Bertie and Bran dive after it, the ground rushing up at them, each pulling out of the dive at the least moment, leveling off parallel to the ground. They are flying fairly evenly, both stretched out over their brooms, each with a hand reaching for the winged ball.
Next thing Bran knows he's tumbling over the ground, rolling several times, a pain in his side letting him know he's been hit by a bludger. Nearby, Bertie is also rolling head over heels. Either he was also hit by a bludger or when Bran was hit he somehow went sideways, ramming into Bertie.
Rolling into a sitting position Bran feels something in his hand. Triumphant he holds his hand palm up to reveal... something that looks like part of a Hufflepuff Quidditch uniform? Confused, looking over to Bertie, Bran sees the other seeker with a perplexed expression at seeing what's in Bran's hand. That perplexed expression deepens as Bertie looks down to something moving at his chest. Reaching down into his shirt, Bertie pulls out the snitch. With that, Barbie Bones announces, "Nutcombe has the snitch! Hufflepuff takes the win 190 to 30!"
Bran looks at Bertie who looks back, both of them rolling on the ground again, this time shaking with laughter at the absurdity of a match won by a snitch down the shirt.
A little later, when walking back to the castle, Kurt and he can't help but overhear the two girls walking just ahead of them talking about Secret Santa. The girls are talking about who got their names and whose names they drew, both expressing relief at not having drawn a professor's name. Bran can understand the sentiment. He has the name of the Care of Magical Creatures professor, Jolyon Kent.
Having no clue what to get the man Bran put thoughts of the present aside last weekend while looking for other gifts. It was when he found something his father might like that Bran thought it or something similar might be something Professor Kent would not only like but actually use. Before leaving Hogsmeade last Saturday, Bran bought both his father and Professor Kent grill master gift baskets.
Tired of being behind the girls who seems to walk slower the faster they talk, Kurt and Bran go around, both looking forward to relaxing a little before supper though they'd both rather have a win to celebrate.