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Enhance Vision Spell (Rex)
Author: Saffron
Date: 10-13-17 19:55
Adiran had thought to try out for the Hufflepuff team but last night, just after supper, getting in some practice with some others, he'd ended up breaking several bones in his hand. Madam Promfrey fixed him right up with Skele-Gro, but as the trials far less than twenty-four hours from the time he took the potion, the nurse insisted he sit out today. Adiran had protested but she stood firm. As he left the hospital wing thinking he'd try out anyway, Madam Pomfrey called out to him, "If you participate tomorrow I shall take fifty points from your house."
Aghast and appalled that Madam Pomfrey had that sort of power over house points and that she would surely carry through on her threat, Adiran had returned to his room, grumbling and griping about the unfairness of it all, when he came to the pitch today he joined those in the stands there only to watch.
Rex feels bad for Adiran. He does. But... but as unHufflepuff as it is, Rex also has the uncharitable thought that without Adiran, that's one less person he's up against for a post on the team.
Rex had given trying out a lot of thought. He's done more than think about it. All last school year and over the summer Rex has gotten in as much practice as he could. He'd tried to talk Ingrid into trying out as well. Sure, they'd be on different teams if both were selected but while Ingrid gave his suggestion some serious thought, ultimately she decided to cheer him on from the stands.
Signing up only for keeper, wearing a white vest, Rex currently hovers in front of one set of hoops. A black vested chaser charges in close, quaffle in hand but tries to fake Rex out with a pass to another black vested chaser. That player's throw wasn't the greatest but Rex is helped when a bludger meant for one of the chasers touches the quaffle instead, sending it on a different path.
Several chasers go after it, none of them able to get a firm hold. The quaffle goes from white vested player to black vested to another black vest then is dropped altogether. The third of the Black Team chasers scoops it up then immediately hurls it at Rex. He's able to stop it with a full body block, catching it outright. Handing it off to a White Team chaser he sits back for a moment to enjoy the action moving away from him but not getting too relaxed. Never know when they'll come back his way.
By the day's end Rex is pleased with his overall performance. It was only in the third match he played that he didn't get to show much of his skill. He was on the Black Team then. The chasers for the White Team that go around didn't play well together so everything they did ended up looking uncoordinated and awkward. That was strange to watch because each of the three had done well in other scrimmages, working with other participants.
The only time the action reached Rex, the White Team chasers had pulled together somehow, and only briefly, flying in a formation, protecting the quaffle, finally reaching the hoops tended by Rex. Then everything fell apart. The white vested player with the quaffle went to throw for goal but instead threw it straight at a chaser wearing a black vest. How that happened Rex never did figure out. His teammate wasn't anywhere between the White Team chaser and the hoops.
His teammate had started to pull away from Rex to get the quaffle down the length of the pitch but lost his hold on the ball when he was smacked hard by a bludger. Another of the White Team chasers gained possession. He lined up for a shot but jerked when a bludger whizzed by, causing him to bean himself in the head with the quaffle. The third white vested chaser then took control but in the haste of trying to finally get the quaffle going in the direction of a hoop, made a bad throw. The ball was clearly wide of any of the hoops to Rex didn't have to move even a little.
The Black Team gained possession of the quaffle and kept it after that. As he couldn't exactly bring binoculars or omnioculars up here with him, Rex wished he knew an enhanced vision spell so he could better see the action in detail going on at the other end of the pitch.
Seeker, Chaser and Keeper
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 10-14-17 04:22
It was the first day since September first that Sophie was cheerful. The Quidditch tryouts were an important school event, and she was eager to participate in it. It was good to be on the pitch, fly on her broomstick, and she promised herself Mickey Moon's presence was not going to ruin her day. She had past the last days in a numb state, feeling heartbroken and sad, but today it was going to be different. Sophie needed to be focus, she had to do her best, so she could get a chance of being selected as Hufflepuff's seeker.
After the warm ups and the drills came the scrimmages. Sophie was selected to be part of the white team. She put some distance between the chasers and herself, as she looked around, searching for the snitch. She circled the pitch with full attention, although from time to time, she would take a look down below, to see how the chasers were doing. It was harder when there was no one commenting the match. She saw the Team Black chaser formation passing the quaffle between the three of them with ease, and one of them ended up scoring. It made the search for the snitch even more urgent.
Sophie kept searching, controlling Black Team's seeker from the corner of her eye. She then noticed the seeker stated to raise his flying speed and she turned the broom around, alarmed. She chased the other team's seeker, realizing he had spotted the snitch first. She went after the little golden ball, her eyes fixated on it. She flew as fast as she could, and soon she was side by side with the other seeker. However, he had gained some advantage from spotting the snitch first, as he was in a better position to catch it. They both reached their arms, and he caught the snitch, even if Sophie had made all her efforts to do so. Team Black was victorious on this scrimmage, for Sophie's dismay.
She landed on the grass, a little bit frustrated. She spotted Caleb putting a black vest on. This year, for the very first time, he was going to try out as well. Sophie wished him good luck, and she sat on a bench, watching the next scrimmage and waiting for an opportunity to play again.
Soon her name was called, and once again she played for the white team. Mickey Moon was playing as well, in the beater position and on her team. Sophie decided to take a different approach during this scrimmage. She flew closer to the other seeker, her eyes going around the pitch, up and down, in every direction. She wanted to spot the snitch first. And she did so, later in the scrimmage. She saw a glint of gold to her left, and she abruptly turned her broom in that direction. The black team seeker followed her. A bludger came into Sophie's direction, but Mickey came to her rescue, and he throw it out of her way, allowing her to keep flying towards the snitch. She was so focused on the snitch, that only later she would think how brave and protective his gesture had been, and how sad it was he wasn't her boyfriend. For now all she wanted was to feel the little golden ball inside her glove. And that happened moments later. Instead of reaching her arm slowly, she did so in a swift fast movement, and caught the snitch, bringing the victory to her team.
Unlike Sophie, Patricia was not going to participate in the tryouts. She was in the stands, watching. For her surprise Caleb had decided to try out. Patricia knew he was not good at Quidditch and he didn't like it, so she wondered if he was doing this just to impress her. If that was the case he was doing a terrible job. He dropped the quaffle too many times, and he actually flied away from a bludger in fear, not risking a blow from the heavy ball, even if he had a good chance to score. Patricia had disliked the exchange of looks between him and Sophie at the pitch, and even if she knew Caleb didn't like her sister the way he liked her, she couldn't help being a little bit jealous. The two of them spent the majority of their time together, while she only had a few bits with Caleb here and there.
A bludger hit Caleb on his nose, and Patricia had to fight the urge to go to his rescue. He seemed really in pain, and declared to Coach Krum he gave up. He went to the Hospital Wing, bleeding from his nose. Patricia, after noticing none of her sisters were looking at her, followed him. After all it hasn't been such a bad idea for Caleb to try out, if it meant they could spend sometime together at the castle, while everyone else was at the pitch.
Meanwhile Belinda was trying out for chaser. She was playing on Caleb's team when the bludger hit his face. She thought he was a crying baby, and she was glad he was out, because despite his age and height, he wasn't doing any good to the team. With Caleb out, a brand new chaser joined the black team for the scrimmage. The quaffle was thrown back in the air and a white chaser was the first to reach it. Belinda glued herself to her, and she tried to use her hands to snatch the red ball. After some pestering, she was able to get what she wanted and she conquered the quaffle's possession. She turned the game's direction and after flying a few meters she passed the quaffle to the new black team chaser who was free. He didn't seem to have any troubles catching the quaffle unlike Caleb. He didn't even let go of it, when a bludger hit his shoulder. He threw the quaffle back at Belinda, who then passed it to the another black team chaser. They made good solid passes, getting closer to the hoops. Belinda was finally at a good range, and using her body she catapulted the quaffle into the left hoop. Unfortunately, the keeper seemed to guess which direction she had aimed and made defense with his fists. Overall it wasn't a bad scrimmage, as she managed to score twice.
On another scrimmage, she found herself playing with her friend Hercules. He was playing in the chaser position, just like her, and on the very same team, which now was the white team. On one moment Belinda had to come to his rescue, because he was surrounded by the three black chasers. It was a typical ambush move. Belinda screamed asking Hercules to drop the quaffle, using all the strength he had. He did so, and she dived, trying to catch the quaffle before, any of the black chasers could do so. She was successful, but such ambitious movement almost made her crash on the grass. Sometimes her Slyhterin ambition made her forget all sort of risks. However, the gamble paid off. She flew up again with the quaffle, dodged a bludger, and zig zagged, towards the hoops, so the black team chasers wouldn't decide to ambush her, like they did with Hercules. She passed the quaffle to her other team chaser, and she scored. Belinda smiled and cleaned her sweaty forehead with her sleeve – it had been quite hard to conquer such goal.
Magnus was on the stands. He only had his first experience with broomsticks yesterday, on Coach Krum's flying lesson, and he didn't know what to make of it yet. It had been fun to try it out, but Magnus felt that flying a broomstick was like learning how to ride a bicycle: it would need him some practice, before he could even think of adding flying balls into the equation. However Quidditch seemed like a fun game. His friend Ned had explained him all the rules. At first Magnus didn't understand much of it, but now things were making more sense to him as he watched the scrimmages. He wished Ned would be seated with him to guide him, as he still couldn't understand who did what. Who held the baseball like bats? The seekers? Or was it the beaters? And the red ball, what was it called? It was still a bit confusing, but Magnus was enjoying his very first taste in Quidditch. He admired the speed of the players, the action and even the pushing and the blood involved. It was way more interesting than football or any other sport he knew. He hoped one day he would play this sport has well, but not today.
On the other hand, Eileen had decided to try out. She had played Quidditch before, and the only reason why she didn't join the Little League was because she didn't want to upset Elmer. He would be sad to see his sister playing Quidditch, while he couldn't do so, due to his frail constitution. But Elmer wasn't here and Eileen wanted to be involved on as much school experiences she could, and even if she didn't make it to the Ravenclaw team, she wanted to say that at least she was part of the try outs.
It was fun to enter in the scrimmages, and have the chance to play with students of every age and house, especially the older ones. She played in all positions but beater, which was the one she least enjoyed. As a seeker she wasn't able to catch any snitch, and she realized she wasn't as fast as she thought she would be. Sophie made it seem so easy! It was nice to play as chaser, but in the end she thought it was too aggressive, with all the pushing and the fast quaffle passes. It fitted Belinda much better. It was in the keeper position that she felt more comfortable at.
Eileen played for the black team twice as a keeper. On the first scrimmage as a keeper, she suffered a goal right on the very first minute. It happened so fast, she had barely saw the chasers coming. However, after the initial surprise things improved. Eileen watched the chasers approaching again, and remaining in a central position, she followed the quaffle with her eyes. Once a chaser was in a good scoring position and throw to the right, Eileen was ready. She dive to the right, and used her fist to push the quaffle away. On another occasion, she was bold enough to intercept the quaffle in the air, with both her hands, anticipating a goal. She passed the quaffle back to her team player, choosing the one who seemed more available to initiate a new move.
On the second scrimmage as a keeper for the black team, she suffered a goal, because the quaffle had hit the central hoop, and on the rebound the chaser scored. But Eileen did not fall for the same mistake, and next time there was a rebound, she flew towards the quaffle, holding it tight. There was another time when a shot came with quite a speed. Eileen was not able to make a defense that time, but she had been almost there, feeling the red ball touching the edge of her gloved fingers.
Overall, she felt she had done a decent role as a keeper. It had been a nice experience and even if she wasn't chosen, she would be sure to practice her moves during Coach Krum's Quidditch Workshops, so she would have a place in the team in the future.
(Malden) Ouch
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 10-14-17 07:18
Malden accepted a pass from Gerry Martini-Blackwell and zoomed toward the hoops guarded by the White Keeper. He came in fast and at an angle and let the quaffle fly from his finger tips with a bit of spin. Nevertheless, the White Keeper knocked the ball away from the goals. Malden, following the path of the quaffle, caught the rebound and tried again. This time he was quick and accurate. The ball cleanly sailed through the hoop, earning Team Black ten points.
Malden was trying out for his old position of Chaser on the Slytherin team. He felt his chances of earning the position back were good. If he didn't get back on the team, though, then he'd have more time to devote to Team Delta Echo. The group had met in the Room of Requirement a few times already and was planning a meeting at The Shrieking Shack during the next Hogsmeade trip.
Malden followed the White Chaser who now had possession of the quaffle. He urged his broomstick to go faster and managed to pull up alongside the White Chaser, who immediately switched the quaffle from one arm to the other. Charlotte Stratford snuck in on the White Chaser's other side and swiftly lifted the quaffle out of her arms. Charlotte threw the all at Malden, who abruptly turned his broomstick around and raced for the hoops guarded by the White Keeper. He got another score in before the scrimmage match ended.
During a break, Malden sat with Arielle, who had come to the Quidditch Trials to support her boyfriend. Since Malden was sweaty, she didn't lean into him like she normally might, which was all the better because he also faintly smelled like cigarette smoke. Malden didn't feel like answering Arielle's questions on the subject.
When he was next called up to play, Malden joined Team White. As dumb as it sounded, Malden wished he could be on the black team again because white was a boring color. Black was dark and mysterious.
He grabbed the quaffle when it was thrown into the air and immediately threw it at Cornington Marchbanks. Cornington had to pass it on to Duncan Dippet when a bludger came right at him. Malden shot forward to make himself available to Duncan. Duncan saw the opening and launched the ball forward. The quaffle landed neatly in Malden's arms but was knocked free when a bludger slammed into the space between the ball and Malden's chin. He almost flew backwards off his broom but managed to clasp his broomstick to keep himself upright.
Malden wheezed, glad the bludger had merely bounced off of him and not gone up into his face or down, potentially splintering his broomstick. His eyes were briefly clouded with tears, but through the blur, he could see the other chasers converging beneath him. They were going after the quaffle he had dropped. Malden drew his hand over his eyes to clear them and then dove down, despite knowing he was too late to make a difference.
Fortunately, Cornington got the quaffle before anyone else could. He inclined steadily and then threw the ball up to Duncan, who tucked the quaffle in the crook of his arm and sped off to the hoops. Malden, still wheezing, hurried to catch up and to be of assistance if needed.
Seeking To Be Seeker (Bran)
Author: Saffron
Date: 10-14-17 10:39
Bran wipes a sweaty hand over his sweaty face. It's not an especially hot day but being kitted out in quidditch gear, doing warm-ups, drills, and then several scrimmages have made him hot even if those scrimmages haven't been back to back for him.
Hearing his name called for the scrimmage after the one currently taking place, he chugs the drink he'd taken from the refreshments table then goes to join those who will be his teammates. They'll form the White Team for their scrimmage and Bran takes a minute to scan faces so he can better remember who's who. Wearing the vests help but he likes to know who's on his team even if as seeker he has little interaction with them. What interaction he does have will be with the beaters on his team helping to keep bludgers away from him that have been hit by the beaters from the other team.
When the time comes he takes to the air, double checking to see who the other seeker this match is. The balls are released, Bran and the other seeker trying to follow the snitch's path. Neither succeeds.
The other seeker flies a somewhat random pattern while Bran takes a more methodical approach. The Black Team has the quaffle, the chasers making a good game of keep away from the White chasers when Bran spots the snitch. As best he can without drawing attention to himself he starts following it. Up up up then down down down skirting the grass. The other seeker is suddenly there beside Bran. He pulls ahead even as the snitch increases the distance between it and him. The other seeker speeds up, coming even with Bran and somehow bumping into him. The bump surprises both of them, distracting them from the snitch. Just like that the snitch is gone.
The other seeker has a sighting a little while later, so obvious about it that Bran is there in half a second. He edges out the other seeker, reaching for the winged ball. Streeeeetching... And then the whistle blows signaling the end of the scrimmage match.
One scrimmage later Bran is tapped as seeker, again for the White Team. Once the match begins Bran takes a moment to fly above the action and hover, eyes scanning for any hint of glinting gold flitting about. He watches as his team's chasers draw in close to the hoops, one of them hurling the quaffle to the hoop on the keeper's right. The keeper stops the ball's path but what happens from there Bran doesn't see because he thinks he spies the snitch behind that right hoop.
Keeping his eyes trained on the spot he makes his way towards the set of hoops guarded by the Black Team's keeper, not speeding but not going slowly either. When he gets there, the Black Team's chasers have the red ball and have taken the action in the direction of the other set of hoops.
There! The snitch is moving at a snail's pace, fluttering along as if it has no care in the world though as it's a snitch so Bran doubts it actually has a care in the world. Then again, snitches often seem to have some sentience they way they seem to know when someone's in pursuit. Like now. The snitch speeds up the closer Bran gets. Maybe there's some sort of spell to sense when someone's near?
Bran increases his speed as the snitch starts pulling away. He senses the other seeker coming up from one side and sees a bludger coming at him from the other. Bran slams on the brakes, allowing the bludger to pass in front of him just as the other seeker catches up. The bludger clips the other seeker, causing him to slow for a moment even as Bran accelerates.
The snitch is right there. So close. Bran leans over his broom handle, arm outstretched. His hand closes over the winged ball. Yes! Three quarters of the way into the timed match, it's over. Bran feels a little badly for the other players who have now lost what could have been important minutes for their respective tryouts but he's pumped about having caught the snitch in such a short span of time. Not many get caught in the trials.
Heading to the ground, he returns to the refreshment table for another drink and thinks a snack would be good to tide him over while he waits to see if he gets to play again.
Paton and Franciscus Try Out
Author: Griet
Date: 10-14-17 11:28
Paton hovered on his broomstick during a timeout. It wasn't very often that timeouts happened during scrimmage matches, but in this case, a chaser on the other team had taken a bludger to the mouth, which had knocked out teeth and caused a substantial amount of bleeding. Paton felt sorry for the young boy. He'd had some nasty bludger hits himself, but nothing as bad as that.
Game play resumed after the boy was removed from the match and escorted to the Hospital Wing by a prefect watching the trials but not trying out herself. Paton accepted the quaffle from Coach Krum, since he'd been the last one in possession of it prior to the timeout. He hurtled through the sky and passed the quaffle to Franciscus, who was also on the white team and also playing chaser.
The cousins were interested in getting back their old spots on the Ravenclaw team. As seventh years, this was their only remaining opportunity to play for their house. Both were considering St. Emrys after graduation, and both were considering trying out for the college teams, but they wanted to play for Ravenclaw one last time.
Franciscus caught the pass easily and scurried toward the hoops, which were being guarded by Oliver. Franciscus faked out Oliver by pretending to aim for one hoop, but then he threw at another. The ball hit rim but nevertheless tipped through the goal hoop.
Oliver handed the quaffle to a chaser on his team. Franciscus and Paton both moved in to flank that chaser, but then Paton had to dodge a bludger, allowing one of the black chasers to pull up beside the teammate holding the red ball. Franciscus was still on that chaser's other side and did his best to move in on him without getting too close to cause a foul.
When a bludger targeted him, Franciscus had no choice but to swerve. He almost collided into the seeker on his team, who was in hot pursuit of the snitch. The near collision allowed the other seeker to close in on the winged ball, but then a bludger cracked against that seeker's arm. The seeker on Team White recovered from her near collision and caught the snitch.
Paton and Franciscus both touched down and got some drinks and snacks to tide them over. Franciscus chortled.
"What?" Paton asked.
Franciscus pointed at his own face and said, "You've got glitter just about everywhere."
Paton scowled. "I know. It's impossible to get rid of. If I didn't know better, I'd say Fulvia used some kind of spell to make the glitter extra persistent."
Franciscus grinned. "You should get even with her."
"Somehow I don't think that will go over well. I'm a seventh year and a prefect, and she's a first year and a girl."
"So do it secretly," Franciscus suggested. "Maybe you can enlist some known pranksters to help."
"It's not being very secretive if I include others, is it?"
Franciscus couldn't answer, because it was time for him and Paton to mount their brooms again. This time they were on opposing teams. Paton was on Team White again, but Franciscus was playing chaser for Team Black. He caught the quaffle at tip off and started to fly off with it, when Paton seized it from him. Franciscus tried to steal it back, but Paton threw it at Mildred, who threw it at Finley.
Franciscus shot forward, determined to catch up to Finley or disrupt a pass she might make. He eye-balled her movements and then swooped in front of Mildred when Finley tried to throw the ball to her. Franciscus caught the quaffle, but lost it when a bludger slammed into his back. Paton came out of nowhere to scoop up the ball and drove all the way to the goal hoops, where he scored.
Franciscus rotated his shoulders in an effort to work the pain from his back. Gareth had gotten the quaffle from the keeper. He whizzed through the air but stopped abruptly when the opposing chasers closed in on him. Franciscus assessed the situation and decided to fly under Gareth. Gareth dropped the ball, and Franciscus caught it. He dashed for the hoops, hoping to score.
Hard Headed (Kurt)
Author: Saffron
Date: 10-14-17 14:19
Kurt veers around three chasers as one from wearing a white vest prepares for a foul shot. He wants to be lined up with a bludger once that shot's taken and normal play resumes. When he hits it, he aims at a chaser wearing a black vest who now has possession of the quaffle. The chaser dodges the bludger but Kurt doesn't notice as he's flying after the other bludger, bat at the ready.
This time his target is the Black Team's seeker who looks to have had a snitch sighting. As the seeker is fairly close Kurt follows the bludger, ready to hit it again once it's reaches the seeker. The bludger connects with the seeker's elbow, but more of a glancing blow. Still, it's enough to have the seeker taking eyes from the snitch, if the snitch was there that is. Kurt doesn't see it.
He waits until the seeker is in the clear from his bat then bats the bludger back in the direction of the chasers. A Black Team chaser intercepts and redirects. Kurt, meanwhile, is after the bludger he'd first hit. He's in mid-swing when the scrimmage ends. He pulls up from hitting the bludger, grabbing it instead with his hand to take it down with him for use in another match, not the one right after this as the balls for it are already ready to be released.
Waiting to be called for another scrimmage, Kurt spends the time with Bran and other friends, mostly talking about whatever match is currently taking place and about how various people performed in previous scrimmages.
When called again, Kurt's given a black vest to put on. As he dons it, he wonders what the process is for assigning players to teams for each scrimmage. It's probably somewhat involved though as quickly as Coach Krum has everything ready when the first scrimmage starts one might think it's relatively easy, a no brainer even.
Hefting his bat - his own, and not one given for the tryouts - Kurt joins the other players for this game, flying into the air above the pitch. It's a nice day and there are plenty of spectators in the stands but not as many as would be for an actual match because many are on the pitch to tryout for one of the house teams.
The balls are released, the chasers scramble for the quaffle and Kurt along with the three other beaters go after the bludgers. One of beaters wearing a white vest gets to the one Kurt had flown after before he does so he waits. Good thing to because in that short time the quaffle has gone from one of Kurt's teammates to the other beater's teammate. Kurt gets behind the quaffle the opposing beater hit and sends it to the chaser now holding the quaffle.
That other beater suddenly is at Kurt's side, trying to get the bludger going back the way he wants it to go. In the process, he smacks Kurt in the head with his bat, which in turn has one of the officials blowing a whistle to check Kurt's head. After determining Kurt seems fine to go on but cautioning him to alert one of the referees if Kurt starts experiencing blurry vision, spots before his eyes, nausea, and all the other indicators of possible concussion.
Thankful to be allowed to go on and accepting the white vest wearing beater's profuse apology for being so focused on the bludger he forgot all about safety, seconds later Kurt is back in the match vying with that same beater for a bludger, Kurt beating him to it and sending it not at the quaffle bearer but at one of the other White Team chasers to keep her from accepting a pass.
When the match ends, Kurt has a headache but it's dull and nothing to keep him from playing if called for another scrimmage, Bran joking about how it's good Kurt is so hard headed.
Kaycee - Having Fun
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 10-14-17 14:41
Kaycee crossed the Pitch while carrying the quaffle in the crook of her arm. Over the summer, she had convinced her aunt and uncle to buy her a broomstick. That broomstick wasn't a new model, but it wasn't too old either. It was last year's Meteor X. The broom handled like a dream and was pretty to boot.
Kaycee had spent a lot of the summer zipping around on it and practicing drills, though she'd had to substitute other kinds of balls for actual regulation Quidditch equipment. By the time the Quidditch Trials rolled around, Kaycee felt like she knew what she was doing. She might not be experienced or any sort of expert, but she felt she could definitely outperform a true newbie.
Kaycee really wanted to play chaser for the Hufflepuff team. Chaser seemed like the most fun position out of all. Chasers caught and threw, and raced around the Pitch. Keeper and Seeker seemed a bit slow, and the only neat thing about playing Beater was being able to hit people (targeting Gerry and Will would have its perks!).
Kaycee currently played for Team White. Her speedy broomstick left everybody else in the dust. She approached the goal hoops so fast, she thought she might not be able to stop in time. Wouldn't it be something if she ran right into a hoop? It's probably happened before, but she wasn't about to screw up at the Trials (or in front of her enemies!).
She managed to put the brakes on and let the quaffle fly simultaneously. It sailed in a nice, smooth arc, only to be stopped by the keeper on Team Black. At least she'd made a good show of getting the red ball across the length of the Pitch.
In Kaycee's second scrimmage match, she played chaser for Team Black. She took off after Gerry, who happened to be chaser for Team White and who'd gotten his hands on the quaffle first. If they both made their respective house teams, then their rivalry on the field would become just as real as their rivalry off the field.
Kaycee urged her broomstick to go faster and soon caught up to Gerry. She thought ramming into him might be a foul, so she didn't dare try it, but she did swipe her arm out in an attempt to steal the quaffle. In response, he pulled the ball tighter against him and tried to move away from her, but he was hemmed in by another chaser from Team Black.
Kaycee smiled at him wickedly and kept harassing him all the way to the goals. Gerry tried to score, and both Kaycee and her teammate whipped out their arms to disrupt the throw. Kaycee got her fingers on the red ball, which caused it to fly on a slightly different path. The keeper on her team caught the quaffle squarely and handed it off to her.
Gerry returned the favor on her drive across the Pitch. He did everything he possibly could without fouling on purpose to make her uncomfortable. Kaycee didn't dare pass the ball because she knew he'd intercept or at the very least mess her up. If she tried to score, he'd probably do the same.
Instead of attempting a goal, Kaycee spun around with the quaffle still in hand, which surprised Gerry and his keeper. Kaycee came back around swiftly and let loose the quaffle, which to everybody's surprise went through one of the hoops.
A Millisecond Is All It Takes [Sylvestor]
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 10-14-17 18:05
For the fourth or fifth time today Edwina tells Bertie, "Maybe next year."
"Yeah, maybe." The same response he's given each time.
Libby offers, "I could hex her."
"Hex my mother."
"Sure, why not?"
"Because she's my mother."
"A mother who won't let you try out for Quidditch. I thought you had it all set."
"Me too. I guess it's enough that she's still letting me do Fitness & Athletics."
"Hexing could help."
"No, hexing, Libby," Edwina insists.
Bertie nods in agreement. "No hexing."
Libby shrugs. "I know where to find me if you change your mind."
Over the pitch Sylvestor is playing seeker in one of several scrimmages he's had so far and hopes to be in just as many more before the Quidditch trials end. Wearing a black vest, along with a number for those watching and scoring or critiquing or whatever they do to easily identify who is who, especially as most of them don't know him from Merlin, he's hard at work searching for the snitch, flying somewhat randomly.
Down near the ground he spies something glinting. He starts flying lower, keeping his on the stationary glint, trying to be as low key as possible. Maneuvering closer he sighs with disappointment. Just some earring. Probably a girl's but there are a few blokes with pierced ears so who knows? He scoops it up thinking to turn it in later, tucking it into one of his gloves.
His movement draws the attention of the other seeker who thinks he's not only found the snitch but made a grab for it. She comes speeding his way, eager to catch the snitch where he has failed. Sylvestor's impish streak has him pretending to make several more grabs at something down in the grass. This earns him a bludger that he narrowly avoids when he suddenly pulls up as if following the erratic trail of the golden, winged ball.
That's when he really does spot it. No joking around now, he closes the gap to it, the other seeker not far behind. He tries to pull away from her, edging even closer to the snitch, but she's able to not only catch up but to draw parallel with him, only inches away. If they aren't careful they'll bump shoulders or, worse, crash into each other.
Both have fingers touching the snitch but can't get near enough to fully close a hand over it. They both deflate with disappointment when time is called on the scrimmage. They'd each been so close to having the snitch!
When Sylvestor plays again he is once more with the Black Team. His first snitch sighting has the winged orb smack in the middle of all six chasers who are scrabbling over the quaffle as first one chaser then another loses hold of it. Keeping his eye on it, Sylvestor navigates around one player then another, avoiding a bludger meant for the chaser who's momentarily won possession of the quaffle.
Nearing it, he lets his eyes dart for a millisecond to see if he can tell how much time is left for the match. A millisecond and the snitch seems to have vanished as if it disapparated. Grimacing, he moves out of the middle of the action as carefully as he'd flown into, eyes scanning all around for where that darned snitch went.
His second sighting is because the other seeker has spotted it, accelerating after the snitch, in turn drawing attention to what's going on over that part of the pitch. Sylvestor comes at the ball from the opposite direction, the two seekers seemingly on a head-on-collision course. They both jerk aside at the last moment but as both had hands outstretch for the snitch they end up snagged onto each other. It takes a moment to untangle and in that short period the snitch is out of sight once more.
Neither the other seeker nor Sylvestor saw it again the rest of the timed game.
Crowning Glory (Leo)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 10-14-17 19:04
As he stops to assess where he's searched for the snitch and where he hasn't Leo catches sight of Margaret Kegg. She's not a cousin but she's sort of like family to Uncle AJ though why his once having been married to her mother makes Margaret and her brother like family to his uncle Leo doesn't quite get. He feels sorry for her brother. Louis made it to the pitch this morning, determined to try out for the Hufflepuff team. He'd been feverish and achy but tried to convince Coach Krum he could still participate today. As he was swaying on his feet when talking to Krum, no one thought he'd be able to sit a broom for long. Krum made him go to the hospital wing, sending someone with Louis to ensure he made it.
Nearby movement catches Leo's eye. Eager for that movement to be the snitch he frowns that the movement is only a small bird. But there! Just beyond where the bird was flying. Leo slowly puts his broom into motion, not wanting to "spook" the snitch. No one else around. No chasers. No beater. No seeker opponent. Just Leo and the snitch.
He eases towards where it's oh so slowly cruising along. How did he not see it before?
Closer.
Closer.
Hand outstretched, fingers ready to curl around the snitch, ready to feel its wings flitting against his hand as their motion comes to a stop.
The snitch darts away. Faster and faster. Leo races after, no longer able to be subtle about what he's doing. Without taking his eyes off the snitch he can see the other seeker rapidly angling his way.
This is a scrimmage match with a limited number of minutes. If he doesn't catch the snitch now he may not have another chance to even spot it much less catch it before the game ends. It's now or never.
Increasing his speed as much as he dare, Leo begins gaining on the snitch. In the short time it takes for the other seeker to reach his rapidly changing position Leo's fingers are once more preparing to curl around the winged ball. The other seeker utters an oath that only Leo can hear as Leo's fingers wrap around the snitch. If this were a real match, he would have just earned his team 150 points, which most likely would have given his team, Gryffindor, the victory.
When Leo next plays, the designated White Team seeker, things don't go quite as well. Almost right off the bat, pun intended, he's hit by a bludger. A few minutes later he and the Black Team seeker collide when both think they see the snitch near one set of stands. After that, he's hit by a bludger from his own teammate, a first year who misjudged the angle needed to hit the bludger to send it past Leo to a chaser with the quaffle instead of straight at Leo. His only snitch sighting put him near a set of hoops at the same time all six chaser arrived, one team trying to score and the other team trying to regain the quaffle. In the melee he couldn't keep up with the snitch, at one point even smacking a shin on the outer rim of one of the hoops. The crowning glory of this wonderful match was when with ten seconds remaining the other seeker caught the snitch. Leo was never so glad for a match to end!
Beater and Chaser
Author: Blossom
Date: 10-14-17 21:46
Gideon and Seth both signed up for the Quidditch trials, Gideon for beater and Seth for chaser. Much as they would have liked to have played together on a team, as their father did with his twin when Fred and George were at Hogwarts, they knew if both made a team one would be playing for Gryffindor and the other for Ravenclaw. Gideon tried to talk Larkin into trying out because both of them playing for Gryffindor would be almost as good as being teammates with Seth if that were possible.
At the moment, they are teammates, Seth and he. They're both with the white team. Seth has the quaffle, zigging around the other beater on his team, an older girl whose name he has yet to catch. A bludger is coming his way but she zags around him from the other side to stop it. Spotting another chaser open, he sends the quaffle his way only for him to flub the catch. A black team chaser zips in to grab the quaffle from the fumbling chaser.
The chaser with the black vest immediately passes to another black vested chaser. Seth shoots in between them but isn't in time to catch the quaffle instead of its intended target. He has to make due with pursuing the other chaser almost halfway the length of the pitch before that chaser also decides to pass. She gives the ball a mighty throw but her effort falls just short of the chaser she's sent it to and that chaser doesn't move forward to make up the distance because Gideon has gotten off a bludger that thumps mightly on the chaser's broom handle, causing it to vibrate enough that the chaser lets go for a moment, the movement so sudden he's almost unbalanced.
Seth takes the opportunity to drive in to pluck up the quaffle. Gideon deflects a bludger away from his brother, thinking how odd it will be if both make their house teams and he has to send bludgers at Seth instead of away. Of course, he's done that in for fun games but that's different. Or he supposes it is. He doesn't truly know.
Gideon races after one of the bludgers as Seth carries the quaffle closer to the hoops. Reaching a a good point to try for a goal, Seth sends the ball straight for the center hoop. The black team keeper has to stretch, using a leg to kick the quaffle away. Another of the white team chasers catches the quaffle and sends it right back. Gideon's bludger assists the quaffle in making it through the hoop for a goal, the bludger thumping the keeper right in the chest.
In another scrimmage Gideon is on the black team. The other on his team is Douglas Dippet, whom he's known for years. Gideon can't say he was surprised that Doug was Sorted into Slytherin, now with everything he's heard growing up about that house.
Doug and he work together to dominate the white team beaters. Doug and Gideon consistently beat the other two to the bludgers and are able to run interference more often when one of the others does get in a hit. Like right now, a white beater has batted the bludger at a black chaser trying to steal the quaffle from a white chaser. Gideon comes up sort of behind and to the side of the bludger, hitting it with his bat to angle it towards the white chaser. Before the other beater can do anything of use the bludger whomps into the chaser, who promptly loses hold of the quaffle, allowing Gideon's team member to scoop it away.
Seth is in the scrimmage following the one Gideon played with Doug Dippet. Coincidently, one of the other two chasers on his team, the white team, is Doug's brother Duncan. The third on their team is a girl called Kaycee. Seth would say something like she's not bad for a girl but Larkin can outplay both Gideon and he any day of the week, which is why he doesn't understand why Larkin didn't want to try out today. She is taking F&A this year and has played in some Quidditch for fun since school began but she literally turned her nose up when Seth and Gideon asked if she was signing up for the trials.
Kaycee steals the quaffle from a black chaser. Seth thinks his name is Chip but he's gotten some of the older students' names confused, especially those who aren't in Ravenclaw. Kaycee swerves this way and that, unable to make a straight line run from mid-pitch where the steal occurred to the hoops where the black team keeper is grinning at the thought of getting into the action. Kaycee is forced to hand off to Duncan who in turn passes to Seth. Seth gets them closer to the hoops only to return the quaffle to Kaycee. She sets up for the throw but the keeper slaps it back, straight at Kaycee. A bludger is going right at her and since he's close to it, Seth flies his broom to where he can kick at the bludger, sending the ball away from her, allowing her to make a good throw. The keeper again stops the quaffle, this time catching it outright then tossing it to one of the black chasers.
His team doesn't score this scrimmage but neither did the black team so that's something at least. It's not that points matter with these scrimmages because Coach Krum and the referees are looking at how each individual plays as an individual and as a member of a team but to many, Seth included, it's the competitiveness of it all. Having his team win a scrimmage, no matter whether his team is the black team or the white team for a given match and no matter who makes up his team, gives a great feeling of satisfaction.