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2004-2005 Quidditch Trials (Theodosia)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 09-08-10 08:28
Theodosia was up early and ate a light breakfast before heading down to the pitch. Even though she gets there well before most students are stirring from their beds, she's not at all surprised to see a handful of eager Quidditch hopefuls already there, getting in some practice time before today's trials begin. After calling a greeting to the would-be team members, she goes first to her office to put check-lists in order for the Hogsmeade Humbatas players who are helping today, putting each on a clipboard to which a pencil has been attached. She's tried ink loaded quills before but found they just aren't as effective decided to switch to regular pencils charmed to keep a good point. Those clipboards ready to go and a clipboard with a sign-in sheet from which she and her assistants will make a roster ready to go, Theodosia turned her attention to the brooms.
The school had recently updated - and upgraded - its Quidditch worthy broom supply - for the use of first years taking flying lessons, for use in Quidditch matches when needed, for use in the Fitness & Athletics classes, and for students who don't have brooms but who like to come and play pick-up games evern now and again. The brooms were really nice and were a make and model Theodosia approved but then a manufacturing flaw was found in the handles that caused the charms to vanish without warning at the worst of times so all those brooms were sent back and a full refund received. After much discussion and looking at all the available options again, Cleansweep Thirteens were chosen to replace all those sent back. The Thirteens are Cleansweeps newest model and though they are not in the same league as expensive racing brooms such as the Nimbus and Firebolt lines, they are nifty brooms with good speeds and excellent manuevering capabilities. Theodosia is in the process of gathering up a handful of Cleansweep Thirteens to take out to the pitch when the first of the Humbatas arrive, married couple Brent Gorper and Clarissa Greenhill. Only Brent is helping with the flying today because Clarissa, who is now six and a half months pregnant, took a leave from playing Quidditch. She came today to help out on the ground though from the way she keeps looking longingly around, Theodosia can tell that Clarissa is really missing getting to play these days.
The brooms are taken out to the sidelines and Brent offers to double check that the pitch markings are as visible from the air as they should be. Theodosia checked yesterday but readily agrees to have Brent look things over, glad to have the extra set of eyes in case she missed anything. Clarissa helps triple check that all the various charms are correctly in place on all the balls that will be used today. By that time, more of the Humbatas have arrived so after the inspection, the balls are quickly carried out to the sidelines near the brooms. Also by that time, even though it's still somewhat early, the number of students have increased, some of them looking nervous but othes with expressions of this is just another day. Theodosia knows that in a blink, some of those nervous ones will suddenly be fine and some of those nonchalant ones will become a bundle of nerves.
At the designated time, Theodosia uses the Sonorus spell and addresses those assembled. "Welcome to the Quidditch tryouts. I know you are all disappointed that there are no house teams this term but are also excited that Hogwarts is one of seven schools competing in the Interscholastic Quidditch Tournament. We will play one home match, hosting Beauxbaton's Academy," Theodosia pauses because there's as the first of the other six schools in the tournmant is named, causing a buzz among the students.
"As Professor Dumbledore mentioned in his start of term speech, there will be more than seven members on each team. What he did not mention is that because of the special nature of this tournament and because all schools involved want their students to get a fair amount of game time, for the first time ever in-game substitutions will be allowed. This means that if you make the Hogwarts team and if you are not announced as a starting player for a given match, there is still a chance you will see some game time for that match."
Theodosia holds up the sign-in roster. "If you've not signed in, please do so. I'm passing this around again. After everyone's signed who's going to, we are going to break you into groups for warm-ups, drills, and a few flying exercises." Theodosia draws attention to the various Humbatas standing with her, introducing each though most of the students there know who each of the professional players is. When she's done introducing her assistants, Theodosia says, "Just like last year, you will each play in a series of scrimmages. You will have a chance to play in the position you are most hoping to get so be sure you listed that on the roster in the space indicated. You may also play other positions in the scrimmages because sometimes you are better at something else than you realize and because every single person cannot be Seeker." She says this with a grin and a chuckle to indicate she's teasing, knowing full well that some don't ever want that position.
She makes a few additional remarks then once the roster is back in her hands, she huddles with the Humbatas to get the list broken into manageable groups. Once that's done she allows each Humbata to call his or her students. This is handled expediently and within fifteen minutes the groups are moving to different parts of the pitch to begin working, with Theodosia floating from group to group to watch and assess the students in each.
Rabnotts At The Tryouts
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-08-10 17:30
Hadrian, Hunter, and Heather Rabnott arrived at the pitch at different times. Hadrian was there even before Coach Batuti wasm eating a granola bar on the walk down and drinking some grape juice he'd gotten from the common commons. Hunter came after breakfast, where he'd been nervous enough that all he managed to choke down was some toast with a little blackberry jam and a few swallows of chocolate milk. Heather ate a nice, leisurely breakfast, enjoying every bite of her eggs over easy, cheese soldiers, and an apple cinnamon muffin. She had both orange juice and some lemony tea with sugar. She then strolled down to the pitch with a small group of others and took a spot in the stands to watch the tryouts, both to show support for her brothers and to simply have fun watching tryouts for a game she loves.
Hadrian and Hunter both have new Firebolts, bought over the summer. The boys' parents had offered to put forth a certain amount of money towards brooms and if the boys wanted a model that cost more than that, they would each have to come up with the additional funds. Hadrian had long known what he wanted and had been saving money given as gifts and setting aside a portion of his allowance money for over a year for just such an occassion. Hunter had money from gifts but little saved from allowance so after picking what broom he would most like to have he then set out to earn what he need to make up the difference.
Hadrian's played chaser on Ravenclaw's team but when he signed his name on the roster he indicated he'd be open to playing any position. He figures that increases his chances of being picked to play on the tournament team. They'd been told at Start of Term Feast that there would be more than seven people picked today but they had no idea if that meant extras for each position, and if so, how many extras for each, or if that meant a two or three who could play any position as substitutes should someone not be able to make a match for some reason. Hadrian was greatly relieved when Coach Batuti explains there will be more than seven chosen because in-game substitutions will be allowed. A second after that he went back to being a little worried because he realized she still hadn't said how many more than seven are being chosen today.
When everyone trying out had taken a seat on the ground in front of one of the stands to listen to Coach Batuti, Hunter had plopped down beside his brother. Hunter would dearly love to be chosen for beater but upon seeing what his brother wrote down on the sign-in sheet, Hunter decided to write the same thing: interested in all positions. He tried out for more than one position last year so might as well this year too.
There's a short wait while the names from the roster are divvied up. When Hunter's name is called, he joins the others making up his group and they go to a spot that's actually behind one set of stands, their Humbatas leader saying, "We'll have plenty of room to maneuver here. Last year there were drills for individual positions and there will be some of that as well today but to get started we're going to do some warming up and then some good old fashioned flying drills using aerial rings."
They do some actual warm-ups, like stretching, being told that flying uses more muscles than a person realizes and when that flying is combined with a sport like Quidditch, even more muscles are involved. Proper stretching can help reduce muscle strain. Not having done any sort of warming up, like his brother had done by coming to the pitch practically before sunrise, Hunter doesn't mind at all having to go through exercises some might find tedious. In fact, he finds it's relaxing in a way because by having to focus on doing the stretching properly, he's not nearly as nervous as he was at breakfast.
After everyone in the group has stretched, they get on their brooms and take to the air, starting out with some back and forth sprinting then moving on to using the aerial hoops that had been mentioned. This flying involves sprinting around their given air space, timing going through spinning hoops without touching them, and doing it all in a certain amount of time. This, they are told, gives an indication of flying manueverability and because the hoops all spin at different rates, it also is an indicator of their ability to think on the spot. Hunter things it's fun and can't wait to find out what other exercises and drills are in store and likes that the reasons behind each are being explained.
Hadrian, meanwhile, is with a group that went the opposite way, also taking up a large space behind a set of stands. They too start out stretching then take to the air first for some passing drills. After that, they move on to a drill that involves bludgers whooshing back and forth across a small area and each person in the group flying through, ducking and dodging the bludgers.
By the time the groups take a long break - there had been some short ones before that - prior to announcement of the first scrimmage line-up, Hadrian and Hunter have both had a thorough work out and are more than ready for the scrimmage portion of things to begin. Hadrian is chosen for the first scrimmage, playing in the position of keeper. During the timed match he's able to block three of the four goal attempts made. He gets to play in two other matches, once as a chaser and once as beater. He knows he did all right as chaser, working fairly smoothly with the other two on his team to get the quaffle within scoring range three times, and making a goal himself in the process. As beater he fumbled some, finding that his arm muscles are not as developed as he'd thought so after awhile, his arm started getting tired of constantly holding the bat. The experience gives Hadrian better appreciation for those who play long matches as beater, especially someone like Coco Nutt who is a petite little slip of a thing. Hadrian got to know her fairly well through Quidditch and now it seems a little strange not to see her Ravenclaw blue hair among those here at the pitch.
Hunter was chosen a keeper for the second scrimmage match then like his brother got to participate in two more. In both of the others he wound up as chaser and while disappointed not to get to show any skills as a beater, Hunter made two goals as chaser in one of the matches and two in the other. He also assisted in three other goals combined for those two matches. As keeper, he only had a fifty percent block rate, so he's not sure he'd be considered for that position.
After his third - and last - match, Hunter joined others around a table loaded with water and other drinks. He was also hungry and grabbed some sandwiches off another table, plopping down once again by his brother, who was also sitting having a sandwich and a handful of oatmeal raisin biscuits. There's a match still going on and the wait to hear who made the team. The Rabnott brothers hope the time flies until then!
Trying for Beater
Author: Ella
Date: 09-08-10 18:51
Ella had gotten up at the crack of dawn, dressed in her most comfortable clothes, and set off for the common common room for something to nibble on before breakfast was served in the Great Hall. At that early hour, the commons was virtually empty, though eventually it seemed as if others had gotten the same idea.
It was the morning of the Quidditch trials, and though every year there was a large turnout, this year was something special and surely to draw in even bigger numbers. Ella well-imagined the stands packed with spectators, like at an actual Quidditch match. She figured she'd have more competition this year, too.
As soon as Ella saw Francis slip into the common common room and make his way to the bar, she headed for the door and left for the Great Hall. She wondered if he would be trying out for the Hogwarts team. Francis had played chaser once upon a time, and she could see him going out for the team for the chance to play against other schools. Ella wasn't sure how she felt about that, since it would be hard avoiding him when they were supposed to be working together.
After a hearty breakfast in the Great Hall, where Francis later turned up and tried to sit next to her, Ella left for the Quidditch Pitch. Others had already gathered there. She recognized a few of her old Gryffindor teammates. Ella put her name on the sign-up sheet and wrote down beater as her desired position. She didn't put anything down as her backup because she knew she didn't play in the other positions well.
By the time Professor Batuti passed the roster around again, Francis had joined them. He put his name down as well. Ella didn't know what he wrote down for position, but she guessed probably chaser, if not chaser and something else. Hopefully not beater.
Professor Batuti made more announcements and then she and the professional Quidditch players from the Hogsmeade Humbatas put their heads together and divided up the prospective players. Ella got assigned to Tilda Titchmarsh, who played keeper for the Humbatas. Thankfully, Francis got assigned to someone else.
Tilda had her group start out with warm up exercises on the ground and then had them mount their brooms and fly circuits around their designated drill area. The wind pulled Ella's hair free from her sloppy bun as she swiftly circled the area. There was a slight chill to the air, announcing the approach of fall, but it wasn't yet so cold that Ella felt uncomfortable being outside. It also helped that she was being active.
After the laps, Tilda had her group do sprints, followed by flying slalom style through barriers hovering in the sky, and then dodging bludgers. Lastly, they practiced catching and throwing.
Then it was time for the first scrimmage match. Ella didn't find herself in it, but Francis was. She watched him passively play in the position of chaser. He did well enough, though he was obviously rusty from not having played any all of last year. In the next scrimmage match, Ella played beater, the only position she truly cared about.
For the most part, she reached the bludgers faster than her opponent beaters, and many of her hits accuratetely met their targets. One time, she nearly got her hand squished by one of the black balls, though. She didn't know what would happen if she got injured during the trials and couldn't finish participating. It might cost her a spot on the team!
The scrimmage match ended all too soon and without further incident. Ella touched down and sat to watch the next match. What she didn't realize was that she had taken a seat right in front of Francis. He leaned forward and passed her a cup of water.
Ella nearly flinched from surprise but then accepted the cup. "Thanks," she murmured.
"You played well."
"Thanks."
Francis didn't say anything for a long moment, watching the game himself, but then he leaned forward again and whispered, "What did you end up telling Zane?"
Ella tried to keep her cool. "I've ignored most of his letters," she whispered back. "I wrote him a brief note to say I was out of the country for a new job I'd taken. Didn't elaborate on where or what."
Francis snorted. "Wonder how long you can carry on that lie."
Ella was sorely tempted to turn around and splash the water from her cup into his face, but instead she said, "Since you're so keen on my being honest, let me be frank with you. It's really obvious you haven't played Quidditch in a long time. You really should have practiced more before you decided to try out for the team."
Francis didn't reply. Ella smirked and looked over her shoulder, but by then, he'd gone.
The Jenkins Are At The Tryouts Too
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-08-10 20:11
Like their cousins the Rabnotts, the three Jenkins siblings arrive at the Quidditch pitch at different times. Eden, eager to participate in her first ever Hogwarts Quidditch event as a student instead of as a visiting spectator, had woken up about the same time the sun was making an appearance on the horizon. She'd gone ahead and gotten up, tiptoeing around so at not to wake her roommates. Marlow, her cousin and a first year Hufflepufff as well, had mentioned she was going to watch but with hours to go before the trials even begin, Marlow was hunkered down under her covers, snoring softly. Eden's plan for the day is to try out though she has little hope of actually making the team. She's wanting the experience to get first hand knowledge of what she needs to dedicate herself to improving so might have a shot at the team next year. Also, with professional players being on hand to help Theodosia Batuti with the tryouts, Eden's hoping to get some top notch critiques, tips, and pointers.
Jasper left his room not all that long after Eden had. He would have caught up to her if not for the fact that he hadn't showered before bed last night and although he's sure to get hot and sweaty trying out, he figures he should at least start off the morning fresh and clean. After the shower he'd retrieved his Clean Sweep broom, one that had been his father's. Alastor has one that had been their mother's, choosing it because he says it's a better model. Jasper doesn't agree with that assessment but it's one of those things not worth arguing over so never bothers pointing out to Alastor that what he says about the brooms is his opinion, not fact.
Finding it too early yet to get breakfast in the Great Hall, Jasper did what he found others doing, grabbing something from the commons. As he ate a banana while walking to the pitch, he was very glad that the commons keeps snacks on hand. In addition to the banana, he'd grabbed a pear and an apple. He's always loved fruit to the point that Alastor calls him fruity, always guffawing loudly at the possible double meaning and because he thinks he's a great wit.
Alastor did not get up with the sun as his brother and sister had done. He slept to a decent time, rolled out of bed, shoved on clothes, grabbed his broom, then clomped down to the Great Hall for breakfast where he at a bowl of cereal and a lemon danish. He sat by himself, thinking about the tryouts and what other teams might be in the tournament. After a summer spent in counseling, with sessions to continue here at Hogwarts, Alastor is still torn over being good and truly pissed with his brother and cousins for ratting on him about his behavior and attitude and being thankful that they cared enough to tell his parents that he was getting more and more out of control, with the potential to end up acting like Zuberi Batuti. For now, he usually just keeps his mouth shut when around any of them and figures it's a good thing for Jasper that they are not in the same Hogwarts house.
Down at the pitch, Eden signed up for keeper and seeker, knowing that those would be her best shots at making the team. Chaser and beater both require more stamina and upper body strength than she currently has. Something for her to work on for sure. Jasper put his name in for chaser, beater, and even keeper though he'd prefer to be in the thick of the action all the time. Alastor is hoping for beater or chaser but noted that he'd happy to take any position.
Eden and Alastor end up in the same group for exercises and drills with Brent Gorper running things. Eden thinks he's dreamy but then, as her brothers are always telling her, as far as Eden is concerned if it's a male who is a professional Quidditch player, she finds him dreamy no matter how bad looking he might actually be. They exaggerate. Eden does have her standards and can she really help it if so many professional male Quidditch players are very good looking... and dreamy?
Alastor, who finds his younger sister to be silly and exasperating also has a protective, big brother instinct to watch out for her. As their group members race along a small aerial obstacle course, he finds himself watching out for her. He really doesn't want her to get her feelings hurt when she doesn't make the team. Eden, enjoying herself, watching others, and also being very practical in knowing that she's hardly got a chance of actually making the team would tell Alastor he's underestimating her if she knew what he was thinking.
Their group does a series of passing with the quaffle, another exercise where they are all going after a snitch that cannot go past the shimmering bright red lines in the air Brent created with his wand. Eden is delighted beyond words when she's the only one to catch the snitch on the first run through the exercise. She catches it each time and Brent tells her that if she stays interested in Quidditch, she could have a future as a seeker. Her flying is a little wobbly so that does need working on. Alastor is happiest when they do a few drills using the bludgers. In one drill he's the only one in the group who hit the bludger on target every single time.
Over in another area, Jasper's group, the one led by Tilda Titchmarsh, engaged in a variety of activities. Jasper loved the slalom exercises and sprints the most but also found having to dodge bludgers strangely thrilling. After the last of their exercises, which were of the passing quaffles variety, the group took a break and while getting something to drink, Clarissa Greenhill approached Jasper. She was very nice and told him that she'd watched him during his passing drills then said, "I think you could make a huge improvement with a very tiny change. If you grip the quaffle like this, it should make all the difference in the world in the control you have when you throw it."
She spent a few minutes with him to help make the tiny adjustment she was talking about then left Jasper standing there practicing his new grip while she went off to offer words of advice to others in need.
When the scrimmages began, in the first match he was in Jasper found himself playing beater on the same squad with Alastor as the other beater. Though the brothers can nit pick and argue as only siblings can, for this they worked seamlessly together, helping their chasers while running constant inference with the other squad's chasers. When that match ended, they high fived, all grins.
Jasper was put into two more of the scrimmages, once as chaser and once as keeper, allowing him to showcase himself in each of the three positions he's put down. Alastor played in three more scrimmages, once more as beater, once as chaser, and once even as seeker. He did each of the four matches but knows he's at his best and his happiest as beater. Jasper actually think he did best in the match where he was keeper but is still hoping the most for a spot as chaser. Truth be told, he'd be broom boy in charge of keeping up with the team's brooms if it meant being able to travel with the team to the other schools.
Eden's not sure how it happened but she too is in four of the scrimmages. It looked as though most everyone was in three but some were in four. Some might have even been in more than that but it was hard keeping track of everyone and who was doing what when she's only been at Hogwarts as week and hardly knows who all the older kids are. Eden played as keeper in one match, chaser in one, and seeker in the other two. Chaser was as hard as she thought it would be for her and she was often unable to throw the quaffle just as far or as hard as needed. Keeper was also hard but she was definitely better at it than chaser. It was seeker where she excelled and if she were to luck out and make the team, she's certain that's the position she'd be put in. In one scrimmage as seeker, she was able to catch the snitch, which is hard enough to do when there's all the time in the world for it and not a time scrimmage that ends after a given number of minutes no matter whether the snitch is caught or not. Throughout the day, she's consistently told her flying is wobbly and unsure and given tips on how to improve. Eden had flown some playing Quidditch against family and friends but she'd never had anyone giving her pointers and correcting her mistakes until her first official flying lesson here at school. She figures by this time next fall, she'll be in good form to try for the team again and have a far better chance of succeeding than she does this term.
After her last match, Eden locates her brothers to tell them she saw them playing in some of their matches and they both looked good. After that, Eden located Marlow and sat chatting with her cousin, watching the remaining scrimmages and wondering how long it normally takes for the final team selection to be announced.