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Seeking the Position of Seeker
Author: Rylee
Date: 10-23-15 08:26
She took a sip of water, before readjusting her ponytail. She had done the drills earlier, and hadn't been called for the first scrimmage, and she was at least attempting to play a position other than Seeker - however, it was the position she was most comfortable in.
She watched the current match, Beatrix was quite good in the position of Keeper and did well blocking the ball - it was why she'd been in the position before and she would more than likely obtain it again unless someone with better skill made an appearance.
She'd flicked her gaze up to the bleachers, offering Raz a light smile before she turned her attention back to the match that was coming to an end. There was a short moment before the list of names for the next scrimmage was called and her name was among them.
Grabbing her boom she quickly kicked off and into the air. She was with a few others who had played in earlier scrimmages, and offered her housemates Malden and Mason a nod of her head and a light smile. They weren't friends and knew little of each other beyond Quidditch, but they had played well as a team in the years past. Malden was however, on the opposite team as chaser.
The quaffle was tossed into play, the bludgers and snitch released. Within moments, she shifted on her broom and began scanning the pitch for signs of the glimmering, golden ball. She wasn't sure of the name of the girl who was playing seeker for the opposite team, but she kept a partial eye on her throughout the match.
She turned her attention to the action below her, watching as Malden, who currently had possession of the quaffle attempted to pass it to one of the other chasers on his team. The pass would not reach it's ultimate destination as Mason got to it first. Which caused the group of chasers to quickly change direction toward the hoops.
Beaters quickly shifted their positions and within moments, bludgers as they were found attempted to deflect any chance of scoring. Mason got within scoring range, and the moment the quaffle was out of his hands a well aimed bludger from one of the beaters sent it into free fall.
It was at that moment that the action below was forgotten as she caught sight of the snitch - or rather the glimmering golden ball fluttered right in front of her face long enough for her to catch sight of it. Quickly her attention shifted, tracking the golden ball as it began racing across the pitch.
At this point the other seeker had figured out what was going on and attempted to intercept the golden ball and get her hand on it before Rylee could - however, it was somewhat clear who had had more practice at tracking the golden ball. Ducking low upon her broom, Rylee pushed forward, reaching with one hand as her fingertips brushed the wings of the rapidly flying ball.
Just as her hand was about to close on the ball a stray bludger slammed into her arm, causing her fingers to go numb and her eyes to water - thankfully there was no sound of broken bones. Though the momentary distraction allowed the glimmering ball to dart off as the other girl had shifted to avoid getting hit by the bludger.
The match was called shortly after, with no score having been achieved on either side.
(Aderyn) Beater
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 10-23-15 13:51
She'd debated on if she'd bother trying out this year for the team - debating on taking a year off before things began to get more stressful because next year she'd be taking OWLs, and dealing with OWL coursework. Though, ultimately after talking with Cai and Broderick she chose to try out again this year because next year she would be a bit more stressed thanks to her more intense coursework.
She'd shown up at the trials, after practicing and participating in a few mini-matches with friends and former teammates. For drills and warm-ups she'd been in a group run by Flora Lynch, and she'd absolutely adored the player from the Hogsmeade Humbatas and had met her at Quidditch Con last year. After running drills and warm-ups she stood off to the side and watched the first scrimmage match - which she'd not been called to play in. However, the second scrimmage her name had gotten called so she was up and on her broom and in the air.
Pyrrhus Fine was assisting with this particular scrimmage and Aderyn was not playing her favored position as beater, instead she was trying her luck as Keeper. The quaffle coming at you had to hurt a lot less than being slammed with a bludger at high speeds - though she had a feeling if she'd gotten hit with the quaffle it would still sting quite a bit. Either way, she hovered over the trio of hoops, watching as the chasers and beaters moved over the pitch.
It didn't take long before Mildred Campbell, who was on the opposite team was within scoring range that Aderyn had a chance to test out her skills as a potential keeper for the Ravenclaw house team. Shifting her position slightly, she attempted to gauge where exactly the quaffle was going to go. Ultimately she was off by quite a bit and before she could correct herself the quaffle was through the hoop. She was not overly a fan of playing keeper, but it wasn't exactly a position she hated. She couldn't ever see herself playing as Seeker - it had to be perhaps one of the most boring positions on the pitch.
After allowing two more goals from the opposing team and neither seeker catching the snitch Pyrrhus blew the whistle ending the scrimmage.
Aderyn was given enough time to grab a drink of water, before her name was called for the next scrimmage. Remounting her broom she was in the air. This time, in her favored position as beater. Her bat resting comfortably in her hand, she was most at ease on the pitch. She looked over the rest of her team - Beatrix was Keeper, Rylee was Seeker, Paton, Gerry, and a student she wasn't familiar with made up the chasers. The other beater was not one she'd played with before, nor did she recognize - a first year to boot. Though, they seemed quite nervous about being in the position of beater.
"You'll do fine. Just follow my example," Aderyn said, offering the young boy a bright smile as they took to their positions so that the scrimmage could start.
The moment the quaffle was in play, Aderyn moved hunting for the first bludger intending on getting to it before the other team's beaters. Finding one, she took a moment to adjust her own position to better influence the trajectory of the bludger she was about to hit. Her intention was to disrupt the pass taking place between the chasers of the other team, to allow one of the chasers on her team to lay claim to the quaffle and ultimately send the group in the opposite direction of where they currently were.
There was a satisfying crack as her bat connected with the bludger and unfortunately the bludger would not do it's intended task as it was intercepted and lobbed out of the way by the beater on the opposite team - a first or second year from Hufflepuff that she didn't know. Either way, she was moving again. This time, toward the bludger that had been hit by the other beater on the opposition, intending on meeting it at its finishing point and using it for her advantage.
She caught sight of the young boy who was her co-beater for this scrimmage, a slight nod of her head would indicate where she wanted him to be, to meet the bludger at the finish of the line she was going to send it on. She watched for another moment as Gerry and Mildred came on either side of a pair of the other team's chasers and attempted to get the quaffle from them. It took a moment before the one chaser attempted to fall back and pass to the third - who was not currently surrounded.
The moment the quaffle left her fingertips, Aderyn's bat came in contact with the bludger and sent it flying. This time, it hit it's mark bumping into the bright red ball and sending it into a brief free fall. This allowed Gerry to lay claim to the ball and pull a quick turn on her broom and head toward the hoops. Aderyn kept moving, as the first year she was playing with barely missed breaking a finger when he tried to hit the bludger, having his hand up too far on the bat. She'd have to work with him a bit no matter if he made the team or not.
She sought the next bludger, this one, going in the path of the other team's Seeker, disrupting her course and ultimately buying her team's seeker a few more moments to attempt to find the snitch before the whistle blew and the scrimmage ended - however, neither team would find the snitch because moments later the whistle blew ending that scrimmage.
Seeker, Chaser & Keeper
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 10-23-15 15:56
Sophie was up in the air, playing her first scrimmage. She was playing as a seeker, the only position she had signed up for. She knew her spot at the Hufflepuff team was not granted: a new talent could appear among the first years, or someone else had might developed their flying skills, and they might reveal to be better than her. So, she was giving her best at the pitch, knowing that if she didn't get the spot, then at least there would be no hard feelings, because she had worked hard.
She flied around the pitch, her eyes sweeping the surroundings, in search for the golden snitch. The other seeker, a tall seventh year boy from Ravenclaw named Ichabod Hawkins, was very close to her, and Sophie got the feeling his strategy was to let her do all the search and follow her once she detected the snitch.
Sophie kept circling the pitch, as the chasers battled a few meters below, trying to score. Sophie watched Duncan Dippet, one of her past Hufflepuff teammates who was also know playing for her team, holding the quaffle and making his way to the hoops. He passed the red ball to another chaser that was free, but she wasn't able to score, because the keeper, Beatrix Vanderbilt, made an excellent defense. Sophie focused once again on looking over for the snitch.
It seemed like Ichabod had stopped following her around, and she knew why, when she heard the familiar sound of an approaching bludger. She deviated from the bludger's trajectory as well since it wasn't clear who the beater had wanted to hit, if either her or Ichabod. She thought she had spotted the snitch, right next to Beatrix's hoops, but the golden ball disappeared from that area the moment the chasers rushed in, Duncan holding the quaffle, ready to score.
Frustrated, Sophie kept looking until she finally saw it again, minutes later. She speeded up, feeling Ichabod right behind her. Her eyes were on the tiny ball, as she approached, feeling the wind blowing against her, which didn't really favor her, but it helped to delay the snitch's flight. Once she was close enough she reached out her arm, however Ichabod, whose arm had the triple length of hers, did the same and his large hand grabbed the snitch first. Even if he was behind her, his side has served as an advantage.
Sophie went back to the floor, a little bit frustrated but she shook hands with Ichabod, once Phyrus Fine blew his whistle, ending the game and declaring the winner. She noticed a familiar face holding a school broomstick, waiting for her turn to enter the pitch: her sister Belinda. She didn't even noticed Sophie, because her face was too focused on scrimmage. Last year Patricia had tried out too, but she seemed to have given up, and she was now seated at the bleachers, watching.
Belinda's name was called and she mounted the broom, and elevated herself up in the air. The moment she found out first years could try out she decided to sign in. It wasn't a matter of life and death for her to enter her house's Quidditch team, but she thought it would be fun to give it a try. She had signed up for chaser and keeper. Belinda, just like her sisters, had never played in the Little League before, but she had spent many hours at her father's house playing Shuntbumps with all her sisters. Elmer was often too sick to play, so he would just watch them. And so Belinda had a decent broomstick control. She thought that handling a quaffle would be something she could handle, but she wouldn't dare to play as beater, having to hold such heavy bats and dealing with bludgers. Seeker also seemed like a far too lonely position to be played, where she would almost have to rely on herself.
On the first scrimmage Belinda was playing as a chaser. She didn't manage to score any goal, but she had given assistance when two other goals were scored. She had a good grip on the quaffle, however she wasn't used to having people trying to take it from her, which happened a little bit too often. She would need practice if she ever made it to team, but there was room for improvement. She had been surprised when she was flying after another chaser, and a bludger hit her arm. It had been a terrible feeling but she managed to hold tight in her broom and tried to forget the pain. The next time she learned her lesson and dodged the black ball.
In the next scrimmage Belinda was playing on Sophie's team, and this time she was a keeper. Hercules Sims was playing at the scrimmage too, as a chaser for the opposing team. Belinda had not spoken much with Hercules since the Start of the Year Feast. She would see him in some classes, and she wanted to sit next to him, but she had never had the chance because there was always someone there first. They have exchanged a few looks when passing by the school corridors, or at the Great Hall, but whenever Belinda tried to go talk to him, either Reginald Price would demand her attention, always having something new he wanted to tell her, or Walter Wickham wanted to know what class they would be having next. Sometimes it was Julia Vernon who wanted to go to the bathroom and she didn't want to do it alone, so Belinda would follow her.
Belinda was now in front of the hoops she was supposed to guard. She watched Hercules asking for the quaffle to be passed at him, but he was ignored by his two team chasers, who happened to be in Slytherin and were good friends. They ignored the Gryffindor first year, wanting an opportunity to shine. Belinda was able to make some defenses. But she also missed a few times, and even Hercules had managed to score, when Flora Lynch demanded the two other chasers to work as a team.
Meanwhile Sophie looked for the snitch, once again. She was fooled once by the metallic glow of someone's necklace. The false alarm had made her fly as fast as she could in the glint's direction and she would almost the bleachers. She was determinate to catch the snitch but it was the other seeker who saw it first. Sophie followed her, trying to beat her. She positioned herself at her side, and she pushed the other seeker a little bit, but she kept her position. This time the wind was blowing on their favor. Sophie knew she wouldn't stand a chance by just reaching her arm out for the snitch, and so she took a balance with her chest and she dove forward, her hand ready. She felt the snitch's wings on her skin has she closed her fist. This time she smiled with triumph at the end of the scrimmage ended.
Chasing
Author: Finley
Date: 10-23-15 17:03
Finley jerked her broomstick sharply to the right and scowled when it didn't move quite the way she wanted it to. It wasn't that it was a bad broom, because it really wasn't. The school broom was newer than the ones Hogwarts used to keep in stock and was a decent model at that. The only thing Finley didn't like about it was that it wasn't hers.
Of course, she wasn't the only one not using her own broomstick at the Quidditch Trials. Plenty of first year students and a few older ones were using school brooms, too. If she weren't a veteran player, then she wouldn't have minded as much because she wouldn't have known any better.
She accepted the quaffle from Phoebus, who had decided to try out for every position just for kicks. Finley could tell that he wasn't really that serious about earning a position on the team and feared that he would land one by chance and not care enough to attend practices or play seriously during an actual match. It was a decent pass, though. Finley pulled the ball to her side and pushed ahead, eager to reach the goal hoops.
When out of the corner of her eye she saw a bludger target her, Finley made the quick decision to pass the ball to a first year chaser on her team. The first year caught the ball without much trouble, though that was probably because Finley threw it dead at him and the distance between them hadn't been that great. The moment that was done, she rolled her shoulder to avoid the bludger. It still grazed her, but at least it didn't ram into her like it otherwise would have.
The first year with the quaffle shot it at a goal hoop, only for the other team's keeper to stop it outright. The scrimmage match ended then, and Finley touched down to the ground.
"That was fun," Phoebus quipped, slinging his school-owned broomstick over his shoulder.
"You really shouldn't try out if you don't actually want to make the team," Finley pointed out, shaking her head. "If you want to goof around, then play in a pick-up game that's only for fun."
"What if I take your spot on the team?" Phoebus joked. He doubted he would because Finley was definitely the better player, but he wasn't so bad that he couldn't wind up her teammate.
"You wish."
They stood around and watched the next scrimmage match, and then Finley was called up to play in the next one. She grabbed the quaffle first and handed it over to the nearest chaser playing on her team. That chaser passed it on to their third teammate, who passed it back to Finley. The three chasers worked the quaffle across the Pitch until they got in front of the goal hoops. After three goal attempts, Finley finally scored.
She turned her broom around and chased after the quaffle, which was now in the hands of the other team. A turnover put it back in her possession. Finley drove back to the goals and scored again.
(Asher) Trying for Beater
Author: Jolyon
Date: 10-23-15 18:56
Asher quickly checked his bat to see if the splinter that flew off of it during his recent bludger hit was anything serious or just a fragment that wouldn't impact his game play or safety, or even the safety of others (though his teammates well-being was the only thing that mattered. Everyone else could get hurt for all he cared).
The bat seemed fine. There was a rough spot now where it had previously been smooth, but the spot was small and unlikely to affect anything. He glanced around for a bludger to hit, found one relatively close by, and zoomed in its direction. He reached it shortly before Aderyn Carter, the beater on the other team. He gave the ball a hard whack and directed it at Paton Shrewsbury, who had just intercepted the quaffle thanks to a bad pass.
The bludger got Paton in the arm, and while he didn't drop the ball, his grip loosened enough for Malden to lean in for a steal. Malden turned around abruptly and made a dash for the goals. Asher dropped down to defend him from a bludger and knocked it out of the park. He would have aimed it at somebody else, but getting it away from Malden was his first instinct at the time.
A few scrimmage matches later, Asher found himself in his preferred position of beater again. He chased after one of the black balls, but lost out to a beater on the other team. Asher followed after the ball, now targeting one of his chasers, and tried to fly faster than it. Unfortunately, he couldn't catch up to block it, but he was near enough to get it on the rebound. He redirected it at someone on the other team and then went after it again to see what other damage he could do with it.
He just so happened to glance in the stands and saw Malden sitting with his sister. Malden was saying something to Arielle, who was smiling at him. Asher knew of Malden's interest in his sister, but as far as he knew, Arielle didn't share Malden's feelings. Was it just a smile Arielle was giving Malden, or was it a smile?
He was distracted from his thoughts when a bat flew out of one of the other beater's hands and beaned him in the back of the head. Asher saw stars and black spots, and though the scrimmage match wasn't yet over, he was ejected from the game to seek medical treatment.
One Hodfuffer & Two Marchbanks Try Out
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 10-23-15 19:36
Cornington Marchbanks takes the recently vacated spot by his sister, offering her some of his lemonade. "How come you never try out anymore? You love Quidditch."
Hydrangea has to smile at the question because the younger of the four Marchbanks siblings was not a Hogwarts student the last time she tried our for or play on a house team. "I do love it but was starting to hate the game. Or maybe not the game so much as what goes into being on a house team."
"Oh?"
"Practice no matter the weather, no matter if I had two major exams and an important paper to finish for the next day, or if sick or injured. Same with playing in a match. There are no substitutes in regular matches," Hydrangea says, thinking back to how that was not true of the huge multi-school tournament in which Hogwarts participated. "If you get up sick or just not in a good mood for playing, you still get out there and play and do your damnedest. If you get injured, even a broken leg or a cracked rib, you grit your teeth and keep playing. I decided if I wanted to keep loving Quidditch I should be a spectator and only play when it's just for fun." She casts a glance at her youngest brother. "Why aren't you out there?"
Cornington gives a short laugh. "You've seen me fly."
"I've also seen you play. There are a number of Hufflepuffs out there right now who you are as good as or better."
"I'm okay but I need to work more on being able to fly and do something else at the same time. Oh, isn't that Baron going up?"
"And Glori. Looks like they're on the same team as well this go around."
Glori takes her position as keeper, the only position she's trying for, in front of one set of hoops, hoping this match she gets to see some action. Her last match the other team got in one goal attempt. She caught the quaffle on that one but then could only sit there on her broom watching as her team got the ball to the other end of the pitch and kept it there until that match ended.
No sooner are the balls released is Baron after one of the quaffles, bat at the ready. He'd considered trying his hand at chaser as well but then decided he'd rather stay as beater if he makes the Slytherin team. As a future Minister of Magic, playing beater is one of the few times he'll ever be able to hit people and it be entirely acceptable.
Penny Puckett and Lon Irwin are vying for the quaffle. Lon's on his team so Baron sends the bludger towards Penny. Not only does it connect with her but the other beater on his team, Jade Green, gets to it before the other team's beaters. Lon, with quaffle in hand zooms away but then he too is hit by the other bludger, courtesy of one of those other two beaters.
Finley Pride snatches it up, racing in Glori's direction. Finley, Penny, and their third Paton Shrewsbury, work the ball in close. Paton taking the first shot. Glori leans to get to the quaffle, smacking it back. Finley's got the rebound, narrowly beating Lon to it but, again, Glori keeps the red ball from passing through a hoop.
Paton has it again but Baron knocks a bludger his way, messing up the timing on Paton's throw. Jasper Jenkins, on Baron's and Glori's team, grabs the quaffle and hustles away. By match's end, Glori's had a number of chances to show her skills, the quaffle only getting past her once. Baron is pleased as well. Not only was he able to get off a few assists and what he would consider saves but he's enjoyed playing in a match with Jade rather than against her.
Leo, drinking some water, listens for his name to be called. He's trying again to be Gryffindor's seeker. He thinks he's done well overall in the scrimmages he's played so far even though only once did he actually catch the snitch. At least in those other matches the other seekers didn't have any luck either. These scrimmages are short enough that anyone who's tried out for seeker before knows that it's not unusual not to have the snitch caught every scrimmage match.
In the one match so far that he did catch the snitch, the other team had gotten the quaffle by his team's keeper three times. His team had not yet scored. Leo was thinking that the other team would for sure win this particular match when the snitch fluttered to a stop so close to his nose the wings caused his nose to itch.
Leo went to grab it only to have it dart away. He pursued it, the other seeker noticing the chaser. A beater for her team did as well, sending on into Leo's path. He took the hit on his leg but while it was jarring it didn't slow him nor did it affect his effort to reaching for the snitch. His fingers closed around the snitch, and a half second later the whistle blew ending the game, Leo's team pronounced the winner.
Hearing his name again, he hurries to join the others for the next scrimmage. Franciscus Vanderbilt is first with hands on the quaffle. Leo doesn't notice much more after that as he gives his entire focus to finding the snitch while avoiding bludgers and other fliers. Not having a running commentary as in an actual match means he can't listen to what's taking place. He worries that if he were to start paying attention to who has the quaffle he'll forget to keep looking for the snitch.
A minute or two later he spots something down near the ground that could be the winged ball. Angling down, he loses sight of whatever it was only to see it again all the way across the pitch. Keeping watch, he closes the distance. His heart beats a little quicker at seeing it is the snitch, which suddenly takes off. Leo has often wondered who snitches seem to have minds of their own and are masters of purposely frustrating seekers.
He follows the snitch, closing in on it only to have the snitch increase its speed. He speeds up as well and, unsurprisingly, the other seeker joins him in pursuit. The race around the perimeter of the pitch three times and then the snitch is gone. If Leo didn't know better he'd say it apparated. The other seeker and he exchange a look, both wondering how the snitch can be literally in front of them one second and then nowhere to be seen the next.
Leo pulls a face then resumes his search, the other seeker going off a different direction. When the match ends, neither of them has seen the snitch again. Returning to his bottle of water, Leo hopes he'll get the snitch the next scrimmage he plays.
Glori goes up again just after Leo's match ends. She's fervently hoping to make the team this, her seventh year. At the same time, she's not sure she'll be horribly upset if she doesn't because no practices and matches means more study time, especially as the NEWTs approach.
Right off the bat, Glori is hit by a bludger, coming in from the side to smack her in the cheek. Luckily, there's not a lot of power behind the hard, black ball. The spot stings but she doubts there will be even a slight discoloration there. The beater who hit the ball smiles sheepishly at her, a second year with not a lot of experience at Quidditch in general and even less as a beater. The hit was to have gone towards a chaser but his hand slipped on the bat just as he connected with the ball.
Glori is able to block the other team from scoring a number of times though the quaffle did get by her twice. One of those time was due to another bludger hit. The other was close, her fingers reaching the quaffle but it squeaking by.
When Baron plays again he'd been thinking about grabbing a bite to eat. Thoughts of food are put on hold, though he does shove a couple of grapes in his mouth before rushing out to center pitch.
Approaching a bludger, ready to hit it, Baron has to speak harshly to a first year who cuts him off, bat already swinging to get that same bludger. Such a move is dangerous with a risk of hitting the other beater with the bat, but that the first year is his own teammate this time around makes it worse.
The first year had pulled up, apologizing profusely at having nearly hit Baron and for trying to cut out his own teammate. Baron has the first year go on and hit the bludger but only after he's out of bat range. Baron almost immediately has to go intercept that very bludger and redirect it when he notices the other team's seeker getting close to the snitch.
When on the ground again, that first year comes to Baron to apologize again, explaining that in his eagerness he simply hadn't noticed Baron there. In his full future Minister of Magic mode, Baron graciously accepts the apology and offers to give the first year a few tips.
Green & Green
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 10-24-15 14:25
Hovering in front of the three hoops at one end of the pitch, Hunter massages a spot on his forearm. Moments before a bludger for his own dear, sweet twin sister popped him just as he was moving to block the quaffle. Hunter doesn't take it personally. Not really. Jade is doing her job just as he's doing his and as they do normally play on different teams, him as keeper for Gryffindor and she a beater with Ravenclaw, this particular scrimmage match is business as usual for the two of them.
Jade hurries after a bludger, trying to get to it and bat it at the boy with the quaffle before he gets into scoring range. The boy hasn't shown himself to be particularly adept as a chaser but there's always a first time.
She gives the bludger a solid smack, tracking it as it crosses in front of one of her teammates this game then connects with her intended target. He loses the quaffle to that same teammate, sending the action back in Hunter's direction.
When the chasers reach him, Hunter is ready. Duncan Dippet passes to Daisy Khan who sends the quaffle off to Hunter's left. He uses the flat of his broom to swat the ball away. Duncan and a boy called William Wentworth, who is still smarting from Jade's bludger hit, vie for the red ball, Duncan winning the brief battle. Duncan shoots the other way, to Hunter's right. Waldo Smee, the other beater on Jade's team, manages to get off an excellent hit. The black ball gets Hunter on his arm in much the same spot as Jade's hit had, only harder. His arm, and hand, are knocked back by the force, which in turn messes up his getting a hand on the quaffle.
The ball gets by him, the first time this match, putting points on the board for Jade's team. Jade flashes a smile at her brother though both know after they're on the ground again she'll come ask him first thing how his arm is after two hits close together in the same spot.
Jade hustles to reach a bludger before Asher Kent, slowing only when she sees he'll get their first. She moves instead back towards the chasers, ready to intercept the bludger and send it in a new direction. She sends it again to William Wentworth, not because she has anything against him but because he once again as the quaffle. He passes to Marlow MacDougal just before the bludger would have hit him. Would have because he also changed speed, which messed up the timing Jade had figured for the hit.
A little while later, when standing on the ground speaking with Hunter, Jade comments, "It will be nice this year not having to worry about massive exams."
"Yeah, but knowing you, you've already got a NEWT review going."
Jade simply grins, not about to admit aloud how right he is or how she could help him get started if he'd let her.
Later, Jade is stretched out on the ground for a moment, thinking a nap would be good about now, when her name is called for another scrimmage. Jade is instantly awake again, wishing it were so easy of a morning to be alert so quickly.
Taking note of who's who this time around, Jade and the others are soon in the air, a third year named Sarafina taking possession of the quaffle. Jade already has a bludger lined up, sending it after Sarafina only to have Malden McGonagall divert it.
A few minutes later, Sarafina Sutton has the quaffle once more and again Jade is sending a bludger her way. This time the bludger reaches the chaser before either of her team's beaters can do anything about it. The hit allows Jade's chaser teammate Boris Samson to pluck the quaffle from Sarafina's hands. He arcs his broom around, taking the action the other direction down the pitch.
Jade's team gets more goals that match but it's the other team's seeker who manages to catch that coveted winged ball.
Hunter's in the game again in the following scrimmage. He thinks it's a good thing each team has a different color to distinguish the members each match or they'd all soon forget who's on which team what game.
The other team's chasers work well together, taking quaffle possession from the start and rapidly working the ball to where Hunter is on high alert. The quaffle comes in straight at him, allowing him to catch the ball but as he throws it to one of his teammates, an opposing chaser darts in, intercepts, and hurls it at a hoop. Hunter throws himself and his broom to his right, body stretching, arms reaching. He only just gets there but get there he does, using the flat of his hand to hit the quaffle away.
By match's end, Hunter has had quite the workout. The other team kept the quaffle much of the game though only got it by him once. He feels a little sorry for the other keeper, who only had one chance to do anything. The day's not over yet and that keeper has played in other games and will probably play in a few more before Coach Krum calls the trials to an end.
Heading over to get a drink, Hunter tries to watch the scrimmage now getting underway as he walks, nearly falling into the refreshments table for not paying attention to where he's going.