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Quidditch Trials (Theodosia)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 07-21-09 10:38
Theodosia has been up since just after dawn, excitement and tension over today's Quidditch trials making it difficult for her to sleep. After heating a savory pie filled with crumbles of sausage and egg, she'd taken her portable breakfast along with a cup of strong, black coffee down to the pitch, not at all surprised to find a few students already there, getting in the last bit of practice possible in hopes of making their house teams.
As the time drew nearer for the tryouts to start, Theodosia had brought out school brooms and practice balls of each of the three types used in the game. The task was made much quicker with the help of several students including Griet Vanderbilt, Augustus Hodfuffer, Etta Wynbourne, and Caerwyn Valentine. Others came to assist as well but by that time everything was done.
Viktor Krum arrived with some of his Humbatas. Theodosia stood talking with them while they waited. Theodosia is running the trials much as Viktor had established them when he had her present job and since most of those with him today had helped in the past, running through the plans with them doesn't take long. Nonetheless, they don't make any move to get the trials started until after the time Theodosia had set for the tryouts to begin.
About five minutes before it's time to begin, Zuberi approaches Theodosia, pulling her aside from the other adults. "Do I really have to tryout, Dosie? You know I'm good."
"That's beside the point and you know it."
"Why?"
"You might be good but how do you know you are better than anyone else in your house here today? You have to earn a spot just like everyone else."
"But I'm your brother," he reproachfully whines.
Theodosia stares at him, refusing to deign that comment with one of her own. Instead, she left Zuberi standing there to return to talking with the other adults.
When the designated time does arrive, Theodosia amplifies her voice so that she's easily heard by all on the pitch. "Those of you trying out today, please move to the stands here. Anyone here to watch, please move out of this area designated for those here to participate in the trials."
She gives the students time to do as bid then addressed those in the stands directly in front of her. "As you should already know, simply because you've been on a team before does not automatically mean you will make a team today so don't anyone get overly cocky out there. Confidence is good. Overconfidence could lose you a coveted spot.
I'm sending a roster around. Please sign your name under your house's column.
There are three parts to the trials today, so listen carefully.
In a moment I will be splitting you into groups for drills. The groups are entirely random and have nothing to do with whatever spot you are hoping to gain or whichever house are you in. Each group will go through a series of warm-ups and exercises led by an adult. I will not be leading a group as I will be moving from group to group, assessing everyone.
After the drills, you will return to this section of the stands. Each position will then be drilled. I will call a position and those wishing to try for it will be put through their paces. You may try out for one position or you may try out for them all to better increase your chances of making a team.
After the specific drills, there will be scrimmages. The first ones will be done at random, meaning you may be on a team with those from other houses. The second set of scrimmages will be done by house.
Any questions?"
There are a few, such as are all the school brooms the same and will there be a break for lunch. Once the questions have been answered, Theodosia takes the roster that had been passed around.
"Anyone not sign this? No? Excellent. Let's get started then."
Within a few minutes, the students have been divided into small groups for the warm-up drills, Theodosia starting off herself by hovering on her broom at one end of the pitch, watching the scene before her.
Time for Trial (Hopefully with Minimal Error!)
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 07-21-09 14:36
Isma, Blake and Eric sat in the stands, each signing their name under the Gryffindor house column on the roster sheet. They were nervous, they didn't get a chance to play during their first year, and weren't here for what would have been their second year thanks to the former Minster.
"What position are you trying for Isma?" Blake asked as they waited for their names to be called for a group drill.
"I think Keeper or Seeker. What about you two?" She asked the boys, and barely had time to hear the answer as she was called to join a group mixed with older and a couple younger students.
"Beater for me." Blake's response.
"Chaser for me." Eric's response.
Eric and Blake were in the next group to be called for warm ups and exercises.
One of the Humbatas ran the group that Isma was in, she didn't know most of the people in her group, but had some confidence in her flying abilities. The passing exercise went relatively smoothly, Isma passing the quaffle to a seventh year Ravenclaw, who caught it without missing a beat.
She got a few critiques on her form from the adult running their warm up and exercise drills. She nodded and settled back into the stands, Eric and Blake joining her soon after. They were now waiting for the position specific drills to begin. Isma tried out for Keeper, Seeker and chaser, however her true want was position of Seeker. Though she knew there were several better than her, she still had to try, and would be happy if she was placed as Keeper or even a chaser. She simply wanted a place on the house team.
Quiet Saturday
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-21-09 14:59
Lawrence and Ariella walked hand in hand through the village. This was Lawrence's break from grading papers, and Ariella's lunch break from work. "Crown and Cauldron for lunch? Or Three Broomsticks?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her.
He let his gaze be drawn toward the window front of Petals, however, did not allow it to linger. He had no use of such establishment and had no desire to get on his wife's badside by getting caught supposedly gawking at the scantily clad employees of the place. Turning his attention back to Ariella, he waited on her decision for lunch.
"Three Broomsticks. Haven't eaten there in a while." She said, and looked up at him, before the pair headed off toward the building. "I checked on progress of my patent, and all is going well so far, things should be finalized within the next couple of days."
"Good."
Lunch went quickly enough and and soon enough Lawrence left Ariella back and work and he returned to the castle. Just stepping into his office in the castle, he would note an owl coming in the open window. It dropped an envelope into his hand and hooted before flying off once more.
"What on earth could this be?" He asked aloud to the empty room, opening it up, he would laugh. It would seem that David is getting married and sent an invite to Lawrence and Ariella. Also information on the bachelor party, which was going to be held in Hogsmeade (as the woman is from London) at the establishment he'd merely been looking at earlier. Ariella would not be pleased with this...He'd talk to her later.
(Mark) Trying Out
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-21-09 17:34
The morning of the Quidditch trials, Mark got up early––but not too early––and made himself ready for the day. He sat alone at breakfast, concentrating only on his meal (scrambled eggs and bacon on toast) and what he intended on achieving later that morning.
With a retired professional Quidditch player for a cousin, who also formerly played chaser for Slytherin, Mark felt the great need to do just as well, if not better. He never liked to stand in the shadow of anyone, not even his famous relative. Mark knew that he followed in very impressive footsteps, but he didn't feel discouraged. His sheer determination would help him become the best in every endeavor he attempted.
His broomstick was a Firebolt II, not the most recent model on the market, but not too old either. He'd gotten it over the summer using his own pocket money, and though he'd have preferred a better, newer broomstick, the Firebolt II outshone the old school brooms that he'd otherwise be using without one of his own.
Instead of trying out for chaser like Isolde Farnon had played both at Hogwarts and for the Salisbury Snakes, Mark wanted to become a beater for Slytherin House. He'd played beater once last year, as a Manticore, and believed it to be the best fit for him among the different Quidditch positions.
Sometime after arriving at the Quidditch Pitch, Professor Batuti had everyone vying for a spot to sit in a certain section on the stands. Mark signed his name on the roster for Slytherin and listened closely to Professor Batuti's instructions. He quickly found himself in a group with another Slytherin and several other students from the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. The group was asked to move to a certain part of the field and then mount their brooms by the adult assigned to lead them through warm-up drills.
First, they did sprints. Mark shot forward with his Firebolt comfortably beneath him, turned abruptly, and shot back to his starting position. This went on for several minutes, and then the group was asked to form a circle in the air. They practiced tossing the quaffle to each other, first in succession, and then quite randomly to warm up their reflexes. Finally, they were asked to fly figure eights around hovering cones and dive and climb over hurdles in the air.
Time seemed to fly by quickly, and soon Mark found himself in the stands again. One by one, drills for each individual position took place. Mark was glad to hear beater called first. He came forward when he heard his name, lined up and mounted his broom at the signal. The drills included hitting the bludgers in succession as far as possible, hitting them with a specific target in mind, and hitting them between beaters, as they may very well do in an actual match.
Mark did quite well, hitting one of the black balls so far it disappeared from sight for a moment. He struck his target, a circular object with a red bullseye, every time except once. He didn't always hit it dead on, but more often than not he got very close. He also did well hitting and receiving the bludger with the others trying out for the same position.
Soon enough, he found himself seated in the stands again, watching the other drills for the specific positions take place. For some reason it felt like an eternity before he mounted his broomstick again, this time for one of the scrimmages. Professor Batuti assigned him to a team with no other Slytherins. Mark did his best to not think of his temporary teammates as the total losers they for the most part were, because if he did, he knew he'd screw up massively. He did well, blocking a bludger intent on one of his teammates, and even hit one of the opposing chasers with one of the black balls.
Finally, it came time for a scrimmage match in which he found himself on a team with other Slytherins, including Griet Vanderbilt in the position of chaser and Cornelia Vanderbilt as seeker. Mark had heard that both girls had previously played for the team and were quite good, particularly the younger of the two. The match against a Gryffindor team quickly went underway, with Mark making an immediate beeline for the nearest bludger.
Chasing The Chaser Positions (Deak & Jack)
Author: Kody
Date: 07-21-09 18:20
Excited to get to Quidditch tryouts, Deak had been up earlier than he might normally for a Saturday and gone down to breakfast. Hardly anyone else was in the Great Hall and of those there, almost all were like Deak: eager to get down to the pitch and get things started. Deak had hardly sat down when Jack bumped into him from behind, mumbling, "Why didn't you get me up?"
"Because you were snoring loudly enough to shake the mortar."
Jack's reply had been to yawn mightily before asking Deak to pass the pancakes. Even after a hearty breakfast Jack was still sleepy eyed, grabbing his broom and walking on automatic beside Deak to the pitch. They'd gone on and gotten seats in the area of the stands Professor Batuti had clearly marked. Jack simply followed wherever Deak led, immediately closing his eyes and dozing off again while they waited.
Deak, on the other hand, immediately began looking around, easily spotting Wiggy's lanky frame a few seconds later. Wiggy was standing talking with one of the other Gryffindors but seeing Deak he broke off and came over to join his friends. Eyeing Jack Wiggy asked, "He okay?"
"Having trouble waking up. You think he'd be more alert given what today is."
"Seriously. You don't think he's been hexed, do you?"
Deak screwed up his face in deep thought, slowly nodding his head. "Yeah, suppose he could be. Who'd do it though?"
Wiggy had pointedly looked over to where some of the Slytherins were sitting in a cluster, eyebrows waggling. Deak scrowled, "But why not more of us? Why not you? Why not the competition within their own house?"
Wiggy's head rocked from side to side for a second then he conceded, "Good point. So who in Ravenclaw sees him as a threat?"
"Dunno."
Jack stirred beside them, "Could it be he's simply not feeling that well and slept poorly?"
The thought of a hex sounded so much more thrilling than a touch of flu or some such so both Wiggy and Deak, looking somewhat deflated, said at the same time, "Oh."
Wiggy's little sister joined them then, sitting on the seat below but turning to face them. "What positions are you wanting?"
At once the three reply, "Chaser."
Like Wiggy, his sister has a long, unusual name. Most chop part of it off and call her either Glori or Gloria. Deak asked of her, "What about you, Glori?"
"Anything for me. I'd just like to make the team. I don't think I will though."
"First years often don't," Deak nodded.
"Good experience though," she matter-of-factly replied.
Despite being only half awake, it's Jack who nudges them to say, "Coach is calling for attention."
They listened attentively to what Professor Batuti had to say and each signed their names when the roster reached them, Deak and Jack under Ravenclaw, Wiggy under Gryffindor, and Glori with Hufflepuff. Jack and Deak are put together in the warm-up drill group, Deak finding himself wishing he'd gotten to the pitch and done his own warm-ups before breakfast.
The Hogsmeade Humbata overseeing Deak's group is Clarissa Greenhill, a chaser Deak particularly admires. She has them on foot to begin with, doing some sprints, brooms in hand. Next comes sprints on their brooms, first low to the pitch and then much higher in the air. Deak finds it all very invigorating and hopes Jack does as well. Jack does find the rush of morning chilled air helpful in waking up, though his body aches and his head hurts enough that he wishes he could close his eyes.
Although difficult not to let his eyes wander the length of the pitch to see what other groups are doing, Deak focuses on the drills Clarissa is putting them through, especially when she starts batting bludgers at them to dodge! This exercise helps Jack become even more alert though he does get clipped really hard on the leg by one of the bludgers. Maybe he should have paid a visit to Madam Pomfrey before coming to the trials.
After other drills, including flying cleaning through spinning rings and very fast paced passing of a quaffle, their group's warm-ups were over. Clarissa, who'd been given each in the group tips and advice as they went through their paces, took a moment to speak individually with each before letting them return to the stands. Without the constant movement and the need to stay on his figurative toes, Jack's eyes started having that drowsy look again, something that Clarissa commented on, expressing empathy that he's not feeling well, but also admiration for having the gumption to try out anyway. When she moved to speak with Deak, he had a hard time not blurting out an autograph request. He listened attentively to what she had to say, mainly that she'd noticed in the quaffle passes that he has a little bit of a tell on which way he's going to throw. It's subtle enough that not everyone would notice but some would.
Back in the stands, they return to the seats they'd had before the warm-ups, watching those still going through their paces. A few minutes later there's a short break and then the position specific drills begin. Deak had contemplated putting his name in for beater in case he doesn't get chaser but ended up deciding against it. He considers beater to be Coco's and Fritz's.
When the chaser drills are called, Deak makes sure Jack is alert again and the two go down to the pitch where they mount their brooms and await further instruction. They would be chasers are started off with more passing drills. Some of the drills are straightforward but others involve intricate patterns at faster and faster speeds. Passing the quaffle with bludgers flying comes next. After a few other drills the would-be chasers have goal attempts to make. The keeper spots against them were filled by students wishing to be keepers. That was a relief to Jack and Deak who were glad they weren't trying to score off professional Quidditch keepers.
Their chaser drills completed, they returned to the stands to watch until called to participate in a scrimmage.
Better Than The Rest (Zuberi)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 07-22-09 13:19
Zuberi silently seethed, staring at his older sister. Making him try for a spot when he's as good as he is? After not being able to play in anything more than pick-up games since being made to transfer to from Okapi École de Sorcellerie and after what she put him through the past few months, Dosie should be falling all over herself to ensure Zuberi is on the Slytherin team.
He'd clumped into the stands, sitting at the extreme edge of the designated area. He only half-listened to Dosie explaining the procedure to the trilas, spending more time glaring at her instead. Dosie ignored him for the most part but several times Zuberi felt Viktor's stern gaze upon him. Dosie isn't the only Batuti capable of blatently ignoring someone though once or twice Zuberi did steal glances to see if Viktor was getting perturbed with him.
If not for the fact that Zuberi wants to play on a Quidditch team so badly, he would have said to hell with them both, returned to the castle, and gone back to bed. Zuberi part of the instruction period thinking of ways to tick them both off without getting booted from the team. Zuberi has no lack of confidence that he WILL be on the Slytherin team.
Zuberi signed his name to the roster, indicating on it that his first choice is Beater, second is Chaser, third Seeker, and fourth is Keeper. Zuberi doesn't really want Seeker or Keeper but by indicating his interest, it puts him on the pitch more this morning, which in turn will allow him to showcase his Quidditch talents even more.
Oh, he'd take Seeker all right if that's what's offered. Seekers to tend to get all the glory if the team wins even though it's really the Beaters and Chasers who do the real work. Seeking is time spent alone, out of the thick of the action, looking for an obnoxiously annoying winged ball.
Keeping is okay but a good part of the game is spent watching the action from a distance.
Zuberi would rather be in the midst of that action.
The warm-up drills are, as Marjani has taken to saying recently, easy peasy. After the few months forced time with Viktor, Zuberi knows most of the Humbatas pretty well, including the one running his group, Pyrrhus Fine. Pyrrhus had them begin with flying a large loop around the backside of the stands, they started out slow but on the second loop around they went at an all out, breakneck pace. Then Py had them fly another loop, but this time in reverse. Flying with the broom going backwards while trying not to run into those flying alongside was no easy task!
Pyrrhus had them do a rotating drill where some were hitting Bludgers at others who were dodging them. He had them passing Quaffles, chasing after a Snitch, and another rotating drill with a Quaffle and acting as either Chaser or Keeper.
When those and a few other drills were completed Zuberi's group returned to the stands for the next phase of the trials. Zuberi didn't know about the rest of them but the warm-ups got his adrenaline going so that he was revved up and impatient for the position specific drills.
Zuberi took part in each section of those drills. During the ones for Beater, Zuberi felt he did better than most at hitting his targets spot on and he thinks he nailed the other drills such as hitting the Bludger around certain obstacles while hitting the intended target. Zuberi hardly thinks any of the others did better than he but knowing Dosie, she'll put him in as Keeper just because she knows it's his least desired position on the team.
The Chaser specific drills went just as well. Zuberi passed well with clean throws. The only time he would miss the Quaffle when it was passed to him was if it was a bad throw on the other person's part. Hitting Quaffles through the hoops as if scoring goals was a snap. When those and other Chaser drills were completed, Zuberi believed he outshone the others from all the houses.
The Seeking specific drills included catching as many Snitches in a given period of time as possible and sprinting after a Snitch on a wild route to get to it before anyone else. Zuberi thinks he did particularly well on the one where Bludger after Bludger was aimed at them to prevent them from reaching, much less catching, the Snitch.
The Keeper drills were fairly standard and exactly what Zuberi expected. The main one was the good old hover in front of the goals and try to keep as many Quaffles from getting through the hoops as possible.
The first set of scrimmages were mixed teams and the positions students played were sometimes what they were mostly after but sometimes not. Zuberi played a different position in each of those short scrimmages, which only bothered him a little since he's top choices are Beater and Chaser.
When it came time for the team specific scrimmages, Zuberi was placed first as a Beater, earning hims scowls from a few of his housemates. Mark Farnon was the other during that scrimmage against Gryffindor. Zuberi grudgingly admitted to himself that Mark makes a decent Beater. Not as good as Zuberi of course, but decent.
In the second scrimmage Slytherin participated in, Zuberi was made a Chaser while Basil Wynbourne and Olive Green played Beater. Mark Farnon looked none to happy about that. The other team was Hufflepuff and Zuberi took pride in stealing the Quaffle not once but three times in the short scrimmage. The first time he'd come up behind the Hufflepuff Chaser and pretty as you please tapped the Quaffle away. Again to use Marjani's favorite expression these days, it was easy peasy.
The second time was an interception. Perfectly good pass but Zuberi zipped in between the two Hufflepuff Chasers and caught the Quaffle instead of its intended target. The third time Zuberi ducked as a Bludger went screaming past his head, hitting a Hufflepuff instead. That Hufflepuff just happened to be holding the Quaffle so Zuberi took advantage of the Bludger hit to snatch it away, do a one-eighty turn and take off the other way, passing to a teammate, who then scored off the Hufflepuff playing Keeper that scrimmage.
Zuberi think he could have done more if the whistle hadn't blown to signal that scrimmage's end. With great reluctance he'd returned to the stands to watch the next scrimmage match. Neither team was his but Zuberi knows it always pays to scope out the competition and what better way to do that than today where they're all doing their best to showcase their talents?