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Finally! Quidditch Tryouts Are Here (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 11-05-11 15:14
Mason has been working hard since his first year at Hogwarts to get proficient enough with both flying and the ins and outs of Quidditch. Now that the day is here for tryouts he can hardly believe it to the point that this morning over breakfast he kept thinking he'd wake up from dreaming at any second to just another regular day.
After just enough breakfast to sustain him without making him feel queasy on this important day, Mason had grabbed up his broom and made haste to the pitch. He was one of the first to arrive, which meant that he was in a group doing warm-ups before most others had even gotten to the pitch. Because Mason is willing to take any position on the team, even his least favorite of keeper, after warms-up are over he participates in all the sets of drills. First was for chaser, which involved such exercises as sprints up and down the pitch while passing the quaffle back and forth with two others. One of the beater drills had them hitting bludger after bludger at targets moving at alternating speeds. One seeker drill that Mason particularly enjoyed required following a snitch moving at a fairly fast clip up, down, and around the pitch with moving obstacles representing players in other positions getting in the way. Mason has no illusions of being named Slytherin's seeker as long as Cornelia Vanderbilt is trying out but it's good experience for next year. Last of the position specific drills were those for keeper. Mason still stings down one arm where he clipped one of the rings when diving to block one of the rapidly fired quaffles during one particular drill.
When the keeper drills ended Mason was tired after an already full morning but after resting while getting something to eat, he couldn't wait to be called for his first scrimmage match. It's Slytherin versus Hufflepuff and Mason has been assigned one of the scrimmage's chaser positions. A first year Slytherin whose name escapes him got the tip off at the whistle but quickly lost the quaffle to Hufflepuff. That was maybe three minutes ago, leaving no more than 17 minutes on the clock for this match. It will only end sooner if one of the seekers gets the snitch.
Mason darts in as the Hufflepuff prepares to pass, intercepting the quaffle before it's barely left the girl's hand. Rolling the quaffle in close to his body, Mason adjust his grip on the red ball at the same time he's angling his broom around to fly the opposite direction. Two of the Hufflepuff chasers sidle up to him, boxing him in somewhat. If he dives they dive, if he climbs they climb. Without any indication of what he's going to do, Mason brakes to a dead stop. The two Hufflepuffs shoot past him, giving him an opening to hand off the quaffle to a teammate.
Accelerating, Mason steers around one of the seekers then has to maneuver around two beaters vying for the same bludger. Catching up to the chaser action, he's in time to cut off a Hufflepuff who's attempting to get in close enough to steal the quaffle away from Slytherin. A bludger comes at them though he didn't see who hit it and has no idea if it was meant for him or the Hufflepuff. Either way, it misses.
The other bludger hits the quaffle holder and the ball drops. There's a melee as the six chasers converge on the falling ball. A Hufflepuff is triumphant but a Slytherin easily plucks it away then quickly fires the ball at Mason. He grabs it and shoots forward, lessing the distance to the hoops even more. Just when everyone would have thought Mason is going to throw for a goal, he passes to the third Slytherin chaser, who's in a better position to make the shot.
The Hufflepuff as keeper this scrimmage has the block only to take a bludger to the chest. With arms out and reaching for the quaffle, the bludger hit is full on and severely winding the keeper. The quaffle continues on its way, sailling cleanly through one of the hoops and putting 10 points on the board for Slytherin to Hufflepuff's 0.
There's still time for Hufflepuff to not only even up the score but to get ahead on goals alone so although time is running out on the scrimmage match than Maosn would have liked, he doesn't slow down even a little. If anything, he ratchets up his intensity level, determined not to let Hufflepuff get the quaffle past the mid-pitch point.
Quidditch Trial Day (Isma and Blake)
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 11-05-11 17:32
Quiddtich trials finally rolled around, and Blake and I had been up early waiting to head down to the pitch and discussing various positions and the like that they could try out for. I was pondering trying out for something other than seeker, but decided that I ultimately enjoyed the position and the attention to detail that it required. The position would also be somewhat easier now that the new rules concerning cleanliness near the pitch had been enacted so that so many crisps and sweet wrappers were not left free to blow about the pitch and distract the seekers looking for glimmers of the winged golden ball.
Blake was pondering running the drills for Keeper, Chaser and again for Beater, but he wanted to try and maybe score a position as Chaser or Keeper instead of Beater, as he really didn't want to run the risk of another bludger injury, however, as has already been proven a bludger injury doesn't just occur to beaters. Truth be told he was looking for a change of pace.
"Eric said he'd come out and watch the trials, and I wonder which members of the Humbatas will be around to help with the trials today." I said as we headed toward the locker rooms to change before trials.
"Not sure, but I always enjoy it when the professionals are around it makes things so much cooler." Blake said, and planted a quick kiss to my cheek before we split off to head into our gender specific locker rooms and change for trials.
Once we were out on the pitch we both sign in on the roster, Blake for Beater or Chaser and I for Seeker, then we break off into our warm-up drill groups. Once we get about a dozen students our group takes off for quick warm ups led by Phyrrus Fine, and then we split and head to the position specific drills.
I decided to run the Chaser drills with Blake and we were in two different groups doing sprints up and down the pitch passing the quaffle back and forth between the trio of individuals all trying out for the position. I have a bloody nightmare of a time trying to catch a ball being lobbed at me by another individual and trying to stay on my broom. I think I'd dropped the ball at least half a dozen times if not more on the sprints that we did (which averaged to just about every sprint I dropped the ball). Which meant that there was no way I would be trying out for Keeper either. I think I am good with Seeker.
I sit out the next two runs of position centered drills, having no desire to be a beater or Keeper (especially after my horrid showing in the Chaser drills). Blake however, participated in the Beater drills because that was a position that he enjoyed despite the fact that it held perhaps a higher injury risk than the others. During the beater drills Blake did a half decent job hitting the different targets with the bludgers.
It was Blake's turn to sit out while I ran the Seeker drills which consisted of attempting to find the snitch through different player positioning and with different variables thrown in to ensure that the snitch could be found in even some of the oddest of locations. Once the Seeker drills were completed, I flopped down next to Blake with something to drink, waiting for the scrimmage to be called.
While we waited for the scrimmage to be called, conversation turned to the other members of Gryffindor that were trying out. "It sucks that Wiggy isn't going to be here this year, but I heard that he was going pro so he's going to be busy enough as it is..." I said, quickly redoing the braid I'd put in my hair when a few strands had come loose and I wanted them back in place before I had to take to the air again.
They were both called for their first scrimmage, Gryffindor v. Ravenclaw. Blake was taking position as Chaser, while I was in position as Seeker. Blake and I knew most of the individuals in our trial group as we'd been teammates for the past two years and knew well that they could each hold their positions as well as show some diversity. The Ravenclaw team that they were up against had some new faces in it, possibly some first years that had moved up and decided to try out for the house team, but there were a couple of familiar faces to Blake and I from the IQT last year, and regular matches the year before.
The referee for the scrimmage was Keely Gairden, and when the whistle blew we took to the air. The balls were released and soon enough everyone got right down to work. Blake quickly caught the ball at tip off, hugging it tight to his body, before passing it to one of the other chasers. A fourth year Ravenclaw that I couldn't quite remember the name of managed to intercept the quaffle thanks to a well aimed bludger shot from a second year Ravenclaw, who I think was named Bartholomew Kimple, but I could be wrong.
I was hovering above the match, looking for that glimmering, fluttering golden ball to try and grab it to win the scrimmage, but I hadn't yet caught sight of it. Currently seeking for Ravenclaw in the group we were against was a fifth year that I thought I knew from the trials last year, but couldn't quite remember her name. Rather than drive my self mad with trying to remember it, I turned my attention back to the pitch below.
The scrimmage was fast paced, both sides scoring and having multiple near misses as they attempted to lob the quaffle through the trio of rings to increase their score. Blake was doing quite well, and had managed to fool the Ravenclaw chasers and beaters at least once before scoring the third goal for Gryffindor tying the scrimmage score at thirty to thirty.
Quick check of the clock let me know that there was only three minutes left in the scrimmage. I flicked my attention toward the other seeker, watching her movements for a moment and then I saw it. Glimmering just beyond the center goal post guarded by the Ravenclaw Keeper - the other girl hadn't seen it yet so I quickly start working on a circle around the group of chasers and beaters working with the quaffle and bludgers toward the guarded goal hoops.
Almost as if the ball had sensed me coming toward it it darts forward, nearly missing the keeper's head as it darted forward and tried to get lost once more in the rays of sunlight and avoid the shadow that would make it easier to spot. However, I'd already seen it, and now so had the other seeker. Quick pivot on my broom and I was heading in the new direction, bent low to gain speed and decrease wind resistance.
The Ravenclaw seeker and I were neck and neck, zooming over the group of other players beneath us still involved in the final minute and a half of the scrimmage, Ravenclaw had scored once more and as we closed in on the thirty second mark on the timer I reached my hand out and inched forward only to have the glimmering gold ball be snatched just as my fingers brushed against it.
The Ravenclaw Seeker raised her hands in a triumphant gesture and let out a woop of celebration. "Good game, and it was close, definitely a challenge seeking against you Megara..." The scrimmage was called, and we all headed down to the ground to hydrate and wait to be called for the next scrimmage later in the day. Go figure, at the end of the scrimmage I'd remember her name. Love how that works.
Blake plopped down next to me, "Are we eating out here or heading into the great hall for lunch when it is called?" He asked, panting, out of breath from the scrimmage.
"Out here in the sun. Besides, I'm not ready to leave the pitch until trials are over. If I leave I will be attempted to start doing homework and never make it back for the rest of trials." I said, leaning against him and resting my head on his shoulder.
Hufflepuff Hodfuffers At The Trials (Glori & Gus)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 11-05-11 18:24
Even though the morning is gone and along with it the warm-ups and drills comprising portions of the Quidditch trials and despite the fact that several scrimmage matches have already taken place, Gloriaspasiana Hodfuffer is still having trouble accepting that her brother is here today as a spectator and not a participant. Casting her eyes to the stands where she knows Wiggersmythe is sitting, a deep crease forms across her brow as Glori frowns. She's excited for her brother's good fortune at being taken on by the Puddlemere United professional team and working out a way to continue at Hogwarts but at the same time she's saddened that Wiggy won't be playing Quidditch for Gryffindor. As a Hufflepuff, she should be glad not to have someone as good as Wiggy on an opposing team but as his sister, Glori does wish he would have played for Hogwarts his last two years here and then played professionally. Trying to look on the positive side, with his Puddlemere paycheck Wiggy should be able to afford really nice birthday and Christmas presents for her.
The minutes on the clock for the scrimmage match taking place run out. Glori listens carefully for what two teams are up next and hearing Hufflepuff, listens even more closely in case her name is called.
"Gloriaspasiana, go in as keeper."
Glori played keeper on the IQT team but signed up for today's tryouts with an interest in taking whatever position she could get. Standing beside her, Glori's cousin Augustus Hodfuffer, is also called for this next scrimmage. Gus only signed up for beater. It's not that he dislikes the other positions. He's good enough at them, though less so at seeker, but he's always played beater and it's what he loves most.
Hufflepuff is up against Ravenclaw this match so the sky above the pitch is soon filled with players in Hufflepuff's black and yellow and Ravenclaw's blue and bronze. Glori's in position at one end of the pitch, watching on with interest as the quaffle's put into play. Gus, meanwhile, is already zooming after the bludger he'd scoped out while waiting for the quaffle to be tossed up. He hopes both Caerwyn and he get picked as Hufflepuff's beaters. Not only is Caerwyn his best friend but they've already got three years of being teammates and know they work well together.
Ravenclaw has the quaffle so Gus's first target this match is a chaser. He hits the bludger with a resounding thwack, grimacing slightly. The second he connected bat to bludger he knew that his angle was slightly off. Sure enough, the bludger only grazes the chaser, hardly worth noticing. Jaw determinedly set, Gus zips across the pitch to once more reach that same bludger before anyone else. Another hit, dead on this time, and the bludger soars smack into Gus's new target.
The bludger hit causes the pass being made to go all wonky, allowing Hufflepuff to intercept the quaffle. Gus allows a small smile but his thoughts are already on getting to one of the bludgers and making another hit. The second bludger is closer to him now so he makes for it, pouring on the speed to get their first when he spies one of the Ravenclaw beaters aiming for the same ball.
In the short time it takes Gus to reach that bludger Hufflepuff's lost the quaffle though he has no idea what happened to cause the turn over. Glori saw it though. One of the Ravenclaw chasers got in close and plucked the quaffle right out of her teammate's hand then rocketed away. That Ravenclaw chaser is now rapidly closing in on her position. Glori goes on guard, eyes honed in on the quaffle.
The Ravenclaw is Preston Travers and while Glori thinks he's beyond cute and has flirted with him a few times this is Quidditch and he's the enemy. Glori's eyes narrow as Preston gets close enough for a good throw. She's still locked on the quaffle, the better to follow its path, especially if Preston tries anything other than a straightforward goal attempt. He doesn't. Just lobs the quaffle, his eyes darting to his left well before he actually releases the quaffle. Luckily for Glori, as she dives that direction, which is to her right, Preston's tell was not a deliberate move to throw her off where he was really planning on putting the quaffle.
Glori's hands bat the quaffle back into play. Preston tries to grab it up but Hufflepuff prevails. Glori's friend and roommate Flora Dalton has possession now though she looks terrified at having everyone's attention riveted on her. Glori tried to tell Flora that this would be far different from practicing with a few people this past week but Flora was determined because, in her words, "Think of all the cute boys who'd be interested in me if they know I at least tried out for the team. Doesn't really matter whether I make the team or not. Just them knowing I tried out will move me up in their estimations."
If Flora is going to be afraid of having the quaffle then it's certain she'll not make the team. Looking around at the other Hufflepuffs in the air and scanning the pitch for the faces of others from her house trying out today, Glori thinks that the Hufflepuff field would have to be very limited in talent for Flora to get chosen today. Not that she's ever say that to her friend. No, later today she'll tell Flora, "Really good try out there, Flora." Afterall, no matter what Flora's intentions being here today, it takes guts to actually get on a broom and participate a high speed scrimmage match.
With that high speed action well away from her end of the pitch for the moment, Glori settles back on her broom to enjoy watching, thinking it's too bad she can't have binoculars or omnioculars with her to better see what's going on at the other end of the pitch. Not that her eyes are bad. It's just nicer to be able to see everything a little closer up.
Gus is currently close up to that action. He's so close to it he can't get a proper swing on his bat. Frustrated, he ends up bunting the bludger through the throng of chasers then follows after it. Once clear enough of the other players, Gus wallops the bludger straight back at them where the quaffle is being wrested back and forth as different chasers gain possession but not a good handle on the ball so that it's just as quickly lost. The bludger smacks someone on the back, bounces off and hits another Ravenclaw. Gus can't help but grin at that. Two for the price of one.
Hufflepuff gets it all the day down the pitch this time with Hugo Hathi scoring a goal. Ravenclaw puts the quaffle back into play and with a little sneakiness on its chasers' part, Hufflepuff thinks the quaffle is with one player when it's really with another. That person makes it nearly all the way across the pitch before anyone else realizes. Glori had gone on alert at the player neared even though she thought the quaffle was still some distance away. It's good she did because the quaffle is hurled at top speed practically at the same time Glori's figured out the approaching player does indeed have the ball.
Glori blocks, with the quaffle being sent back to the thrower. The Ravenclaw makes another throw and again Glori blocks. By that time others have arrived. A third attempt has Glori catching the quaffle even though she also takes a knocking by a bludger. By catching it, Glori ensures Hufflepuff takes possession, handing off to Flora, who still looks afraid of being the one actually holding the red ball but not quite as petrified as she'd been when the match began.
When the twenty minutes for the scrimmage ends, the score is tied at one goal apiece and though both seekers spotted the snitch at various times during the match, neither was able to catch it.
(Gus) Trying Out
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 11-06-11 01:59
Gus walked into the quidditch pitch with confidence. He wasn't nervous at all and the usual group of girls supporting him at the stands made him recall his exhibition last year at the IQT. However this year would be different. If he did well on the trials today he would be selected to play for the Slytherin house, a position Gus had never been before and he would like very much to have.
Gus had no troubles with the warm-ups, showing a good control of his broom, unlike some younger students who couldn't even stand on a broom but had been bold enough to sign up for the trials anyway. Since he had signed up for the keeper position, as well as beater, he had participated in both drills. Gus wished to be a keeper more than a beater, but he also found some satisfaction in holding a bat and throw bludgers to his opponents.
Finally he was called to play a scrimmage as a keeper. It was Slytherin against Gryffindor and he flew towards his hoops waiting for the whistle to be blown announcing the beginning of the scrimmage.
Soon the scrimmage started and Gus set his eyes on red quaffle, a smile on his face as he saw the Slytherin chasers flying towards the other side of the pitch. They passed the quaffle between each other and it was getting hard for any of the Gryffindors to intercept it. However a bludger seemed to solve the problem by hitting the arm of the Slytherin chaser who had the quaffle. She dropped it and a Gryffindor chaser caught it.
Gus stayed alert as the tall chaser with his red quidditch robes, crossed the pitch. Soon he was face to face with Gus and he tried to score. Gus had no difficulty defending, and with a smug smile towards the tall Gryffindor, he threw the quaffle to a Slytherin chaser that was nearby.
Bludgers flew around as well as the seekers tried to find the snitch. From time to time Gus would look at the two seekers who were close to each other, but noticing they weren't in the pursuit of the snitch he would quickly turn his attention to the match and the quaffle.
There was another attack to Gus' hoops. The quaffle was passed from chaser to chaser and a younger Gryffindor girl tried her luck by aiming and shooting to the central hoop. Gus guessed the quaffle's trajectory; however he wasn't expecting the tiny girl had such strength making the quaffle move at a considerable velocity and so Gus arrived too late, making the Gryffindors cheer with the goal.
Frustrated by being beaten by a silly girl he focused again on the match defending almost all the shots from the Gryffindor chasers.
Once the scrimmage ended, and he set his feet on the grass he heard some cheers on the stands. Gus smiled and then he looked around to the pitch trying to spot Mark. Since there was no sign of his friend, he sat on a bench, waiting to be called again for another scrimmage. He hoped he could play as a beater next time and that the Gryffindor chaser that scored against him would be playing as well so he could have his revenge.
Last Tryouts at Hogwarts
Author: Ella
Date: 11-06-11 06:23
Ella sat in the stands and sipped water from a styrofoam cup. She had just played in one scrimmage against Slytherin and fully expected to get called into another scrimmage before the end of the Quidditch trials. When she'd first come down to the Quidditch Pitch earlier that morning, Ella had put her name down on the roster for only one position, beater. It was the position she'd always played. She didn't want anything else.
She knew limiting herself to just one position increased the risk that she might not make the team, which would be especially disappointing, considering this was Ella's last year at Hogwarts. She didn't expect to not make the team, though. She was good in her position and a veteran beater for Gryffindor, besides.
Francis had come out to watch the warm-ups, but he'd since left the Pitch, probably to study or do some homework. Ella knew that she should try to get something done today, but she doubted she would. That just meant she'd have to try and do double her assignments tomorrow.
Ella's warm-up group had been led by Brent Gorper, who played beater for the Hogsmeade Humbatas. He was married to Clarissa Greenhill, who played chaser for the same team and was also one of the professional players helping out at the Quidditch trials today.
After a brief warm-up with her group, the position specific drills began. Ella participated in the beater drills and performed exceptionally well almost every time. She'd played decently in her scrimmage against Slytherin.
"Hey."
She looked up and saw that Francis had returned, this time with a book under his arm.
"Hey," she said back. She emptied her cup of water and set it on the bench next to her. Francis sat down on her other side.
"What have I missed?"
"Just about everything. I––" But just then, the current scrimmage ended and the next one was announced: Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff. Ella listened for her name and when she heard it called, she shot Francis an apologetic smile and went onto the field to retrieve her broom. With the money she'd received through the anonymously given Kendra Beck Scholarship, Ella had upgraded her Supernova to a brand new Goldentail broomstick.
The shaft of the broom was made of oak and had a natural golden color. As the name suggested, the tail was also golden, but of a slightly darker shade to contrast with the golden oak. Ella thought her new broomstick had a bold, eye-catching look. It flew great, too.
She mounted her new broomstick and took to the sky, beater bat in hand. When the balls were released, she immediately focused on tracking the nearest, most accessible bludger. She reached it before one of the Hufflepuff beaters could and whacked it hard at the Hufflepuff chaser currently in position of the quaffle. The other Hufflepuff beater quickly intercepted the ball, but not without difficulty. Ella had put a lot of swing into her bat. The Hufflepuff beater managed to deflect it all right, but not without being forced backwards herself.
Ella caught up with the same bludger and tried to hit the chaser again, but he let the quaffle fly to one of his teammates. The bludger struck him in the shoulder, though, causing him to fall foward over his broomstick.
The 20 minutes passed quickly. Ella hit two more players during that time, but she lost the bludger twice to the Hufflepuffs as well. One time she intercepted a bludger intended for her seeker.
With only seconds left on the timer, Ella charged for the bludger, reaching it just seconds before one of the Hufflepuffs. She hit it, but didn't get it at a good angle because the Hufflepuff player was in her way. It flew wide off its mark, which made Ella kind of mad because she didn't want to end her scrimmage on a low note.
The whistle blew and Ella had no chance of redeeming herself unless she played in another scrimmage today, and that wasn't guaranteed. She trudged back into the stands and plopped down next to Francis.
"Good game," he said.
"Thanks."
(Mark) Beat Out the Other Beaters
Author: Isolde
Date: 11-06-11 08:19
Some students participating in the Quidditch trials had no desire to try out for any position but the one they most favored, whereas others were content with any position they might earn on their respective house teams. Mark fell into the former category. He'd only ever played beater for Slytherin and the IQT team. He didn't want to play anything else.
Mark felt like his only real competition for the position of beater on the Slytherin team was Gus. Luckily, there were two beaters per team.
He currently found himself in the midst of a scrimmage match. The opposing team was Ravenclaw. Mark raced after one of the black bludgers and struck it so hard, his whole arm vibrated. It was an odd, yet satisfying sensation. The bludger missed its mark, but only because the chaser it was intended for sensed its arrival and rolled out of its way.
Mark's next course of action was to defend one of his own chasers from the other bludger. He placed himself between the chaser and the black ball. He deflected it easily enough but without any sort of goal in mind other than to get it away from the Slytherin chaser.
Out of no where, the other bludger whizzed past him, very nearly skimming his cheek. If Mark had turned his head only slightly more to the right, it might have broken his cheekbone or struck his nose.
Then the whistle blew. The match was over and it was time for another group to take the field. Slytherin was one of the teams again, but Mark wasn't one of the beaters. He reluctantly flew down to the ground and then grabbed himself something cool to drink.
It wasn't warm outside anymore, not really. The sun was intense, though, and with all the energy it took to hit bludgers back and forth, Mark had nonetheless grown warm. He drained his cup in one giant gulp and then climbed up into the stands.
Kate, Johanna and Felicia had come to watch the tryouts. Gus was playing in the current scrimmage, and they were cheering him on. Mark sat down next to Kate.
"You played well," she told him, taking his hand.
"Thanks. Think I have a shot?"
"Definitely."
"What about Gus?" Mark asked, watching his friend bat a bludger away. It soared in a wide arc away from the pack of Quidditch players.
"For sure. If anything, he'll serve as a distraction against all of the female players. Look:" Kate pointed at a first year girl who sat unsteadily on her broomstick and gazed at Gus with an open mouth.
Mark laughed. "I don't get it." Then he turned to Kate. "Do you find him attractive?"
Kate laughed too. "Well, he is pretty to look at, but he's not really my type." She squeezed his hand and smiled at him.
Mark smiled back.