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At the Trials
Author: Liam Murray
Date: 12-07-12 03:02
"Do you need a good luck kiss for the trials, Liam?" Audrey Appleseed asked with a giggle.
Since Cody had told Audrey that Liam had a crush on her, she would use all the opportunities she had to tease him. At first he was embarrassed and annoyed by her attitude. But since the crush was not real, only a lie Cody made up to cover for their conversation about Jake, Orville and their parents, Liam's attitude started to change and now he was the one who teased Audrey back.
"Maybe later. Now I need to go to the pitch. I don't want to be late."
This was not Liam's first trials but still he could not help to feel a bit nervous. Last year he did not make the team, neither the year before. But he didn't give up. Maybe this would be it.
The pitch was already crowded with many students from the four different houses and from all school years. Liam looked around studying the competition. He spotted Lucy Lehane from Slytherin a few yards away and she pretended she was vomiting when their eyes met. They just could not stand each other since day one. For a moment Liam wished both he and Lucy made their respective Quidditch teams: he would love to beat her every single match he would play against her.
Finally Coach Krum arrived with his assistants and they started to organize groups for warm-ups. Liam was assigned to one of the groups and soon he was up in the air, flying. It was not hard for him to keep control of his broom and unlike others he felt comfortable in the air. He tried to show the instructors his agility and flying skills and he hoped they had liked his performance.
But the warm-up exercise was nothing compared to the drills. After a lot of thinking Liam had decided to try out for the beater position. He knew he had the right physical constitution for it and he wasn't afraid of the bludgers.
The drill constituted in trying to hit with the bat many bludgers as possible and make sure they would hit a respective marked target. There was a young girl whose bat was almost of her size, who flew away screaming, the moment the bludger was launched.
When it was Liam's turn he cursed himself for failing the first attempt. He realized the bat was not well positioned in his hand and after adjusting it he focused on the bludger. He aimed at the target and this time he did it. He was successful in almost all his attempts and once he landed on the grassy ground of the pitch, he had a pleased expression in his face. Even if he didn't make the team he knew he had done a good job.
But the trials weren't over yet. After the warm-ups and the drills came the scrimmages and Liam waited for his time to be called. Being a beater was not about playing individually but working with the other person in the same position. He did the best to accompany the other beater in his moves. He protected one of the chasers from a bludger coming from the other team, using his bat to take it away from her direction. Later in the match, Liam had the chance to aim another bludger to the seeker of the opposite team who was distracted trying to spot the snitch.
It worked: he had hit the boy's arm who soon started to complain with the pain. The seeker was replaced for another one, who this time was not fooled and paid attention to any upcoming bludgers.
Liam focused again on the chasers, making sure he was not on the way of any of them whenever they were working on a move in order to reach the hoops and score. He risked a look at the boy he had injured. At first he had felt a bit guilty for hitting him but he knew he could not have those feelings while in the pitch. If so then he wouldn't be able to play well because he would always be worried to hit someone who was more fragile.
He held his bat tight and continued to focus on the scrimmage that was taking place, putting the injured boy behind his back.
To Gringotts
Author: Phyllida
Date: 12-07-12 06:17
Phyllida sits across a narrow, wooden table from the drawn and weary prisoner. Her father seems to occupy less space than he had a few weeks ago; a tracery of spidery blue veins stands like a tangle of poison ivy against the pale, sunken flesh of his temples. A few strands of brittle auburn hair are frizzed around his temples.The smile on his colourless lips is frailer than ever as he takes her hand, kisses it, weeps, laments his tragedy and the tragedy of their line; reminds her of how dear she is to him, his sweet, talented child. And she cannot bring herself to apologise for running away – I'm sorry, Papa, she begins, once or twice, and he silences her with the loving obliviousness of a father. Perhaps he knows where she had gone, and blinds his eyes out of love. No, Papa, she wants to say. I failed you, I failed our name.
He meditates on the small, perfect hand in his gnarled clutch, running his dry fingertips over the ridges of her white knuckles. I am going to get you out, she repeats frailly. There must be something you know, Papa, something that proves your innocence…
His demeanour changes at once; he deposits her hand gently back on the table between them. There is no proof, child. Only lies, lies, lies…
She can only gaze back, uncomprehending, as dark clouds gather in the rheumy grey of his eyes. He sits back in the dreadful, hard-backed prison chair. You must go to Gringotts, he says, finally. Take everything in our vault, before they do.
Before who does? she asks, but before he can answer, the warden witch rings her bell, and tells them their time is up.
***
"Amulets and charms," croaked a haggard voice as Phyllida hurried past. "Unicorn 'orn and witchwood, camelopard tusk and silver…"
A slack-skinned wizard in a coat stitched with thousands of bone buttons stepped in front of her. "Come now, luv, pretty gels like you need protection from evil eyes and dark 'earts…"
"No, thank you!" she nearly barked. She shrugged off the old hawker, earning a throaty chuckle. "Suit yerself, Miss. Bad news all over the Prophet, some of us just like ter be prepared."
As she hastened away, Phyllida felt Ptolemy snake between her legs, swirling the hem of her cloak. She couldn't have left him behind in Tolpuddle, and there was no time to waste in taking him home to Knightsbridge. He trotted alongside her, leaping potholes in the cobblestones; her reluctant and surly familiar.
"Almost there, old friend," she said, stepping up the kerb towards the imposing white marble pillars of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Ptolemy slowed to a walk and gave her a yellow look of unequivocal doubt. "Yes, they'll let you in." She picked him up, and together, they trod up the flight of high, white marble steps, past the burnished bronze doors, to the main hall. The Gringotts guards paid her no notice as she stepped past the threshold into the bank.
A statue of Gringott gazed over their shoulders as they joined a queue. Phyllida's eyes slid past the brass plaque at his feet; the vaulting splendour of the chamber eluded her attention. Her gaze was fixed on the tweed shoulder of the wizard in front of her; one, two, three customers, until she could approach the teller. She scratched Ptolemy's ears nervously, earning a vexatious growl for her distracted and coarse petting.
"Next customer!" announced a goblin teller. Phyllida realised, with a thud of alarm, that she was the next in line. The long-eared teller looked around him, irritated. "I said: next customer!"
She stepped up to the counter. "I…I would like to enter Vault Eight-Hundred-and-Fifty-One, please."
"That vault and its assets have been frozen, I'm afraid," the goblin replied, without a moment's hesitation.
Phyllida stared at him, dazed. "Pardon me?"
"The Ministry retains its prerogative to freeze accounts associated with convicted criminals. The authorisation was sent through yesterday morning." The goblin folded his long fingers calmly. "Is there any other matter I may assist you with?"
"No," Phyllida replied blankly. Ptolemy leapt out of her arms, hissing at the goblin threateningly.
"Ptolemy, no! I apologise profusely, sir!"
Ptolemy gave her a flat look, and loped off towards the bronze doors.
Phyllida chased after him, steaming with vexation. The streets felt emptied, and a chill Thames fog crept along the cobbles, as they made their way towards the South side of Diagon Alley. She reached a clammy hand into her pocket, and withdrew the note from Mrs Mockridge. She noted the street address before clenching the letter tightly in her hand. Crossing the street, she changed her course for Number Sixty-Eight, Knockturn Alley.
Time Again For Quidditch Tryouts
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 12-07-12 08:03
When Viktor had been looking to ask for assistance for the Quidditch trials at Hogwarts to determine the 2006-2007 house teams, he didn't have to look far. Between word from other trials spreading and word from the flying and Quidditch workshops he offers on Hogsmeade weekends, he had friends from the international Quidditch community contacting him requesting to help. Viktor has taken that to mean the word of mouth has been largely positive. The friends who've helped in the past and who have acted as additional referees during matches have, for the most part, enjoyed the experience and several have cited wanting to get a look at future talent coming out of Hogwarts as another reason for wishing to help.
After contacting a number of friends interested, the list was narrowed down as these other players coordinated schedules with him to be able to spend an entire Saturday at Hogwarts. Some who ended up not being able to help for the trials are down as referees for the matches that will take place over the course of the 2006-2007 school term and others will be coming to the flying and Quidditch workshops to give a hand there.
Wiggy Hodfuffer had shown an interest in helping today but even before Viktor turned him down Wiggy himself had said he was making the offer though knew it wasn't feasible. As a Hogwarts student still and a member of Gryffindor House with friends trying out, Wiggy expressed concern that he'd show a bias towards those friends for making his houses team even if someone else from Gryffindor gave a better showing.
Pyrrhus Fine had volunteered to help today as well but as Viktor has Py down to help with several of the workshops and as a referee for a couple of the matches, he thought he'd let Py off from helping out for the trials. Of course, he's more than welcome to come and watch, give advice from the sidelines, and observe as his brother Mason Jeffers tries out.
Viktor and his assistants for the day, who are Spiridon Haynes a Canadian professional who has been called by many the season's best new seeker, Kody Reese-Emerson a Hogwarts graduate who plays for the Ballycastle Bats and was a member of the World Cup winning British National Team, Imelda Weatherstorm an Australian professional who currently plays for the Brisbane Bandicoots, Morgana Flowers one of the Hogsmeade Humbatas best beaters, Oliver Wood another Hogwarts graduate who is a keeper for Puddlemere United, Beatriz Basso one of the members of the Spanish National Team that played in this years World Cup tournament, and one of Viktor's former teammates Stan Stanislaus who is a former National Team member and currently plays for a relatively newly formed Bulgaria team. With as many students who have shown up to participate in the trials, Viktor hopes he and these seven will be able to give everyone the attention they deserve.
Once they are all gathered at the pitch and the designated time for the trials has arrived, Viktor and his assistants make as short of work as possible in getting participants divided into groups for warm-up and drills. After that will come the portion of trials that will take up the bulk of the day, the timed scrimmages where the students have the best chance of truly showcasing their skills and abilities.
With his love of Quidditch and enjoyment of helping guide students to become better players, Viktor is excited that the day for tryouts is finally here and the trials are finally underway.
Trying Out (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 12-07-12 12:11
Caerwyn had hardly been able to sleep Friday night in anticipation of Saturday's Quidditch trials. He's wanting to be a beater for Hufflepuff and while he did consider trying out for other positions just in case, he decided that while he likes the other positions well enough, he doesn't enjoy them like he does playing beater. Even though the real glory is as seeker followed by chaser and he's played those in pick-up matches as well as keeper every now and again, Caerwyn LOVES wielding a bat and going after bludgers above all else in the game.
Gus Hodfuffer and Caerwyn had been out of the dorm early, grabbed something easily portable for breakfast then went straight to the pitch, being two of the first to arrive. After downing what few bites were left by then of breakfast, they'd taken to the air to warm up before the warm-ups and get in some extra practice. When the trials did finally kick off Caerwyn found himself in a group overseen by Beatriz Basso.
Basso had led her group away from the pitch to give them all plenty of room to maneuver for the warming up. She'd started them off on the ground with some calisthenics, in her accented words, "To Put fire in your veins." After that, they took to the air first for a series of sprints followed by drills.
The first drill Caerwyn's group did involved catching quaffle after quaffle, throwing each quaffle off to another person before catching the next one incoming. It was all very rapid fire and though it did involve a quaffle and could be considered a drill geared more for chasers, as fast as those quaffles were coming, it was also a drill for hand-eye coordination and reflexes. Being good at both are needed by all players, no matter the position played.
One of Caerwyn's favorites of the drill portion was hitting bludgers at moving targets. He didn't hit every target squarely but he hit all the targets in some way except one. Like the rapid fire quaffle drill, this was another drill that while it is a beater drill, it again tests hand-eye coordination and reflexes. Plus, exchange beat and bludger for quaffle and the drill could easily be a chaser drill to improve how well you pass off the quaffle to a moving teammate. Afterall, in Quidditch chasers are hardly sitting around on their brooms waiting for the person with the quaffle to come to them and they definitely don't sit in one spot, be they chaser, keeper, or seeker, waiting for a beater to smack them with a bludger.
When Coach Krum calls a halt to the drills, everyone converges back around the sidelines of the pitch. The first set of names for scrimmage teams is called. Not one of them Caerwyn takes a seat in the section they've been told to wait so he can watch. The scrimmage teams are made up of students competing for slots on the Hufflepuff team and are students who may make their own house teams, and who in turn would be Caerwyn's opposition matches if he does make his house's team today.
When Caerwyn's name is called for his first scrimmage match, he's put in the position he's most wanting, that of beater. The other beater on his squad is a first year from Ravenclaw whose name he doesn't catch. The kid looks petrified but also grimly determined to stick it out.
The scrimmage gets underway and Caerwyn is all too aware of how short a time each match, which means not a great deal of time to showcase talent. Not knowing how many scrimmages there will be today and how many of them he'll get to play and play as a beater, he doesn't hold back. As soon as the quaffle goes into play, Caerwyn darts after the closest bludger. He reaches it before either beater from the other squad, one of them his own roommate Hugo Hathi.
Caerwyn likes Hugo. He's a nice chap and has been a good friend but Caerwyn is not about to give Hugo any leeway when Hugo is vying for one of the two beater positions. Nothing against Hugo but Augustus Hodfuffer is a better player in his opinion so Gus should be one of the Hufflepuff beaters. Caerwyn thinks he's also better than Hugo but thinking he is doesn't mean he actually is. So, keeping that in mind and because Hugo's on the opposing scrimmage squad this match, Caerwyn not only edges Hugo out for that bludger but positions himself to hit it so that Hugo has to come around him to chaser the bludger down. Caerwyn hopes that by the time that happens, the bludger will have reached its target.
With no time to dwell, Caerwyn spots the second bludger, and rockets away in that direction. Flashing his squad's other beater, that nervous first year, an apologetic smile as he reaches the bludger just ahead of the kid, Caerwyn makes his second hit of the day. In searching for where that first one went, he's able to see this one go right where he intended, knocking into the shoulder of a chaser looking to accept a pass from the quaffle holder.
In the all too short minutes of the match, Caerwyn feels he's done well. He takes to his seat again through the next several matches. When he's called again to play beater for a squad, he's hurries to join the others waiting to take to the air, hoping he will do as will this go around as he thinks he did in his first.
Watching from the Sidelines - Not Trying Out
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 12-07-12 12:36
Blake and I had opted this year to not try out, but we'd try out the following year when we didn't have the stress of major examinations looming at the end of the year. Already, classes had proved to be quite a bit more than we had expected and neither of us were willing to jeopardize our good marks because our attention is divided in too many directions.
We'd both talked to Coach Krum about it, and while he would have liked to see what we could do, we opted to sit on the sidelines and watch the others trying out. It also gave us a chance to meet those who were coming back to help including Oliver Wood, who had played Quidditch with Gryffindor when he'd been at Hogwarts.
Blake and I watched the drills, and made comments on those who were trying out for the positions that he and I knew well - Beater and Seeker. "This is going to be a good season, hopefully Gryffindor will actually stand a chance at getting the cup this year. Though, honestly I think if this year ends up being something like the IQT I will shoot myself for not trying out."
Blake laughed and wrapped an arm around me as we watched one of the scrimmage matches. There had already been an injury of sorts, and there were even some first years that were showing some decent talent when they were on their brooms and had either the quaffle or a bat in their hands.
"You are reconsidering aren't you?" Blake said, as I watched a girl from Gryffindor, maybe a year or so behind me finally get a sight on the snitch that I'd seen about a minute and a half before. Her competition in this scrimmage match hadn't made the connection yet, but would soon enough.
"I am. I miss the thrill of racing for the snitch, feeling my fingers close around the rapidly flitting wings and the roar of the crowd when I've ended the match." I said with a laugh and rested my head on his shoulder.
"I know, I miss the sound of the bat against the bludger." He said and sighed.
"Oh well, we need to focus on school. Neither of our parents will appreciate if we fail our OWLs because we were focused on Quidditch."
Blake nodded and we turned our attention back to the trials, watching the groups.
(Gus) Focus
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 12-07-12 13:46
Gus walked with confidence into the Quidditch pitch. After two weeks of boring classes, homework, and Johanna bugging him about Polly's integrity he was finally hoping to have a day where nothing would matter except Quidditch.
He tried to spot Mark among the sea of students but without success. Instead he recognized Johanna's cousin, Evelyn Steele.
"Going to try out today, Mini Steele?"
She blushed and nodded. Her two friends that were behind her started to giggle, excited. The three of them were holding brooms. Evelyn told him she and her friends hoped to make the team and they all wanted to be seekers. He wondered if any of them would be able to fill Cornelia Vanderbilt's shoes, but more than that he was glad they didn't want to try out for the keeper position. Not that he was afraid they would be better than him, but the less competition, the more chances he would have to make it. After all there was just one keeper position per house and so it made it hard to earn it.
Evelyn was talking about how much she practiced during the summer for this and when Gus asked for more details they were interrupted with Coach Krum's arrival. The try outs started right away and Gus found himself in a group led by Morgana Flowers, who ordered them to start warming up. Like every other year, some of the first years and even other older students, could not mount a broomstick properly and they were quickly invited by Morgana to abandon the pitch. A little girl started to cry due to her harsh tone, but Gus knew that was nothing compared with last year when he had Cornelia has the Slytherin team captain. No matter who would be the team captain this year, Gus was sure he or she would be though and demanding as well, because all that matters was a victory.
The warm up started again after the first failed attempt. Gus flew with ease. He had no troubles controlling his broom and after a while flying around the specific route designated by Morgana he was ready for the drills.
Unlike last year, he decided to only sign up for the keeper position this time. He thought that after 2 years playing this position and enjoying it so much, he wouldn't feel like doing anything else. The keeper drill he was assigned consisted in being standing in front of the hoops while quaffles were shot by several different chasers and he had to prevent them to score. Some were easy to defend, others not really. Gus missed some here and there, but overall he thought he did well. He admitted to himself that maybe he got a bit rusty during summer. Unlike Evelyn he did not practiced much. He knew that if he made the team and with weekly practice he would be able to get back to his usual shape.
Concluded the drills Gus waited impatiently for his time to play in a scrimmage. Finally his name was called and he put back his keeper gloves. Soon Gus got focused, his eyes on the red quaffle. He paid attention to the chasers' moves and did his best to calculate the quaffle's trajectory whenever it was shot towards his hoops.
Most of the times he would do it well and defend. He was experienced and the more he would defend the more confident he would get. However he didn't predict when a chaser with the Gryffindor's colors from the other team pretended he was throwing the quaffle to the right and instead shoot it to the left and scored. His team rejoiced and Gus felt annoyed he did not realized the boy's simulation. He risked a glance towards the stands and he could not notice Polly was clapping her hands. Not for him but for the boy from her house who had scored.
He took a deep breath trying not to feel irritated with this, as Johanna's voice suddenly started to invaded his mind, telling him that Polly was not a decent girl and that she cheated on him. He had refused to believe her no matter how she insisted for him to open his eyes and see the truth.
Gus passed the quaffle to one of the chasers of his team and decided to close his mind to everything but this scrimmage. It worked because for the rest of the scrimmage's duration he defended all the shots towards his hoops with determination.
The Greens At The Trials (Olive, Hunter, Jade)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 12-07-12 16:31
Olive:
Arriving at the pitch, her Supernova in hand, Olive joined some of her friends as they waited for things to get started, listening to the small talk but not saying much herself. Catching sight of Zuberi in the stands, come to cheer her and his sister Marjani on, even though Marjani is in Gryffindor, Olive gave a happy wave. She wishes he'd try out again but Zuberi says he's come to like Quidditch strictly for fun and not the sometimes cutthroat competition playing on the house teams can be. He says the stress of winning, to earn points towards the Quidditch Cup isn't worth the energy. She can see his point yet at the same time, Olive thrives on this sort of competition. Olive can easily seeing herself going pro, if she's got the talent and skills for it when the time comes that is.
Sorted into Imelda Weatherstorm's group for the first portion of the trials, Olive goes through the paces of sprints, both on the ground and in the air, and other exercises aimed at getting them primed and ready for drills followed by scrimmages. The shape of Weatherstorm's arms through the practice outfit she's worn today to help out with the Hogwarts trials has Olive wondering if the woman does weight training. She makes a mental note to ask first chance she gets just before Weatherstorm has them flying through spinning rings, forcing Olive to put her full concentration on not garnering any penalties by touching a ring as she flies through or missing it altogether.
As they go through the set of drills Weatherstone has planned, Olive darts glimpses at some of the other groups every now and then to see if they are doing the same things or are being totally different. Not that it matters what those groups are doing, she's just curious to know how each assistant is putting his or her group through its paces and she's also wondering how some of her competition is lining up, both those trying for Slytherin chaser like she is and those she will be playing against should she make the Slytherin team.
One of the drills has Olive's group throwing quaffles, five chances each as Weatherstone acts as keeper to block their efforts. Olive is gleeful, though she only allows herself to crack a smile, when she gets three of her five shots past Weatherstone, with one shot hitting the rim and only one actually being physically stopped by the older witch.
Everyone also participates in a drill involving catching specially charmed snitches. Olive hears a few grumbling about not wanting to play seeker and has to refrain from rolling her eyes or making a retort. Yes, this is more of a seeker specific drill but every drill has its usefulness no matter what position you play, or in this case wish to play. Also, it's not a good idea to go grumbling where the person giving report to Coach Krum might overhear. He'd surely dock sportsmanship points and depending on the house one is in and the position one is trying for, that could be enough to knock you out of contention no matter how good a player you might be.
When the drills come to an end, Olive joins Zuberi to partake of a bottle of sports drink he's grabbed for her. She's not called for the first scrimmage so as they watch that time match get underway, Zuberi fills her in on what he observed of her performance during drills and that of some of the other participants, both in her group and from some other groups.
When Olive is called for a scrimmage, she hands what's left of her drink to Zuberi, snatches up her Supernova and hurries down to join the others forming her squad. After donning the items that mark her as the member of one squad over another, she and the others playing chaser this match get ready for the quaffle to be put into play. Olive is nearest the ball and has her hand on it when a little upstart from her house, a first or second year, she forgets, playing on the other squad has the nerve to try and pull it right out of her grasp. Jerking it away, she gives him a withering glare, accelerating away on her broom, eyes scanning for the location of her two chaser teammates. Spotting one, she gauges whether the girl is open enough before sending the quaffle along. At the last second, Olive hurls it at the other chaser on her squad, foiling a beater from the other team who'd gotten a bludger off at the girl she'd nearly thrown to.
Leaning low over her broom, Olive shoots forward, getting ahead of that little upstart who'd tried to take the quaffle from her and in doing so screws up his effort to move in and try for a steal from the one in possession of the quaffle. Olive has to give the kid props for effort. He might make a pretty good player with a little more experience under his belt.
Within seconds the quaffles been handing off again, right back to Olive. She looks for that girl on her team, whose name she is totally blanking on but she can't let herself get annoyed by that and lose her focus. There are now two opposing chasers and a beater between Olive and the squad's third chaser. For the time being it's best to tuck the quaffle in close and drive forward towards the hoops.
The girl suddenly appears on her right and just ahead, allowing Olive to pass. Quaffle free for the time being she jets around a couple of other players to get into a good position to assist on a goal attempt if needed. Next thing she knows, the quaffle is back in her hands again after the girl went to pass to their teammate only to have a bludger knock the quaffle off kilter and more in Olive's direction. She'd scooped it up before the other chasers could get it to try and get the ball heading in the other direction. Within easy goal range, Olive takes the shot. It seems like minutes instead of seconds as the ball lofts across the distance to pass by the outstretched hand of the keeper and through the hoop.
As the play starts down the pitch in the other direction, Olive looks to see how much time is remaining in this match. Enough time for the other team to get in their own scoring attempt. Or, for Olive to see what she can do about stealing so that her own squad has a chance at goal again.
All too soon the match ends. Olive once again rejoins Zuberi to hear his thoughts and comments on the match as she waits to be called to scrimmage again.
Hunter:
Like his older sister Olive, Hunter was put into the group overseen by Imelda Weatherstorm. He finds the witch to be both intimidating and nice, and she's excellent at giving good advice for helping them improve their skills. He was impatient to get the warming up out of the way and on to the drills though he hopes that impatience didn't show. Olive had reminded when he was at breakfast to not show anything that could be construed as impatience or poor sportsmanship. When he'd reminded her in turn that he's a Gryffindor and doesn't do that sort of thing, he thought he and his broom, a Supernova's like Olive's, would combust from her glare. That's when he'd told her, "Okay, okay. I do get impatient sometimes. I'll try not to today."
Hunter's mainly going out for keeper again, the position he had on the Gryffindor team last school year and the position he had as one of the members of the IQT. He decided this year to also try for seeker just to hedge his bets. Who knows, maybe he'll turn out to be fairly good at it. He's done okay when playing seeker in games just for fun but having played on an actual team he knows that playing for fun and doing it when a championship cup is on the line can be two very different experiences. As such, the drills that seemed geared more seekers he payed close attention to and worked hard to do well at them. As someone who's been a keeper and might be again, Hunter also worked hard on those drills aimed more for keepers, such as when he had to block quaffle shot after quaffle shot. But then, he worked hard on all the drills even those that were more for chasers and beaters. Smashing a bat into a bludger and trying to hit something does have a certain satisfaction to it but he'll leave that to Jade.
The last drill his group did was all about dodging bludgers. Ms. Weatherstorm had each group member stay in a designated space while two people hit bludgers at the person. No matter what position you play, being quick to dodge bludgers comes in handy though it's not always possible. Anyone who's ever played keeper has been hit at least once by a bludger when the choice was to take the bludger hit and block the quaffle or dodge the hit and let the quaffle get by to possibly get through a hoop. Hunter always chooses taking the bludger hit in those instances.
Later when he's getting his a turn in a scrimmage, he's put in first as a seeker. With the scrimmages being timed and that time not all that many minutes in the grand scheme, few playing seeker today in any of the scrimmages will actually catch the snitch. It's possible to do so, and it has been done. It's just not as likely given the short time constraint and the elusive nature of the snitch. Hunter does think these snitches used today have some extra spells on them or something because while still fast and elusive, they have been tending to show up more often, giving the seekers a great chance of at least putting on a show of dexterity and speed in following after the darned thing.
In that scrimmage, Hunter and the other seeker did catch sight of the little winged ball about halfway through the time allotted for the match. They'd raced side by side after it only to lose it when a bludger whipped in front of them. He has no idea who sent the bludger but whoever's side did it caused both of them to lose track of the snitch. With only one minute left to play, Hunter spotted it again and made a dash for it. It led him merrily around the pitch, at some point joined by the other seeker. He got frustratingly close, once even able to feel the whirl of air from its wings but the whistle blew before he could close his hand around it. All in all, he felt it was a very good showing as his first time in a match that counts for something as a seeker.
Hunter played one more scrimmage as seeker before being called into one as a keeper. The orange color of his squad prominently on display, he'd taken his place in front of one set of hoops. Thanks to some bad passes and fumbles by his side's chaser's, the other team fairly quickly has the quaffle in front of Hunter. He effectively blocks the first shot but is unable to catch it and hold it. The rebound is caught by the other team who immediately launches the red ball at him again. Using his broom tail to swat the quaffle away, he tries to aim for one of his own chasers. They seem to have gotten their acts together finally and the one who catches the ball takes off the other way, flanked by her chaser teammates.
By that match's end, Hunter had blocked two more goal attempts. The other squad did get a goal off him but only because a bludger knocked him hard enough on the shoulder it threw off his reach for the quaffle block. Back on the ground, Hunter impatiently waits for his name to be called again, not caring if it's as keeper or seeker, and hopes the impatience doesn't show very much because he does not want to have Olive calling him on it later.
Jade:
Olive had given Jade the same little speech about showing rude or bad behavior today though if anyone needs that speech it's Olive. Really, of the four Green siblings, Olive is the one known for her temper and lack of patience. Maybe that she's making an effort shows her growing maturity? Jade doesn't know but supposes that is the reason. That, and maybe Olive is just doing one of the things she's always excelled it: protecting her sisters and brother. Or, sister in this case as Emmie isn't at Hogwarts any longer.
Unlike her twin and her sister, Jade's broom is the newest model Goldentail. She'd won a hefty gift certificate to Krum's Completely Quidditch in one of the Easter eggs last spring and after trying out every broom model in the store no less than five times, she'd picked the Goldentail. The gift certificate covered most of the broom's cost and what it didn't, Aunt Blythe and Uncle Woody covered as her birthday present.
Hunter had had a certificate as well, only not as large. He could have gotten a Goldentail too if he'd wanted but no, Hunter had picked the Supernova and proclaimed it the best. If he'd have listened to Jade, she would have been happy to fill him in on the limitations of the Supernova compared to this sporty new Goldentail model but he'd cut her off with, "Stop being such a know-it-all Ravenclaw, Jade. I LIKE this broom and if a Supernova is good enough for Olive it's good enough for me." Jade did shut up then but that did not stop her from giving him pitying looks the rest of that day.
Also unlike her twin, Jade is only going for one position today, the position she always plays, that of beater. The other positions are all fine enough in their own way but Jade with her stick arms and smaller frame that hardly fits the physique of a beater, finds great joy in the position. She loves the feel of the bat in her hands (she's working on being able to use either hand to wield the bat) and that thwacking sound of wood against ball and the distinctive whine a bludger can make when sending it on a specific path. She loves having to quickly calculate angles and trajectories while judging how fast her target is moving and aiming not at the target but where she thinks the target will be when interception with the bludger occurs. For Jade, if she can't play beater for Ravenclaw this term, she'd rather sit on the sidelines during matches and make due with pick-up games whenever she can.
To Jade's great thrill she's put in Kody Reese-Emerson's group. Not only was he in her house Ravenclaw during his time at Hogwarts but to her thirteen year old hormones, he's lovely to look at. That he's also part of one of her favorite "local" bands Dynamic Duo probably also adds to the thrill. That she knows Kody fairly well because of her sister Emerald's boyfriend Phinfilius also being a member of Dynamic Duo has nothing to do with any of that thrill, or so she tells herself. She does not, however, miss a few of the envious looks aimed her way when it becomes clear to her group mates that Kody and she are on a first name basis and he's even spent some time joking around with her. It's probably best that she not mention to any of them that over the summer Kody gave Hunter, Olive, and her some help, tips, and advice.
Because of the other groups all needing space, Kody directs his group back behind a group of stands. This is only for part of their warming up and drills. When a set goal posts are free, they'll do a few drills there. He starts them off doing stretches and some ground drills, such as standing in two rows facing each other, passing a quaffle quickly back and forth, up and down the rows. When they take to the skies he has what looks to Muggle World knowledgeable Jade like a tennis ball or baseball machine. It has to work on magic of some sort because it's floating in the air and rapid fire lobbing both bludgers and quaffles at them. They are to catch the quaffles but dodge the bludgers. It's not a drill Jade has ever done but she finds it's somewhat fun and very challenging.
A little later, when Jade is in her first scrimmage match, wearing purple to denote the team she's on, she finds herself up against some other very determined beaters, both the two on the other team and her fellow purple squad beater. That doesn't bother Jade in the slightest. It just means she has to work harder to shine. It also makes the match more enjoyable having others who play well and are working as hard as she is to do their best. Racing to get to a bludger for a cutie from the other side, and mentally scolding herself for getting sidetracked into thinking someone is cute when she's trying to play a match, Jade gets to the black ball first. There is that satisfying crack of bat on bludger and the ball going exactly where she is wanting it to go, which is at the other team's seeker just as the girl was reaching for the snitch. Victory for the other team stopped for the moment and a short end to this scrimmage match averted, deciding she can mix flirting with game play as long as she can get her job done, Jade takes a moment to smile sweetly at the cutie before dashing away in pursuit of another bludger to hit.