|
|
Not A Good Finish
Author: Bailey
Date: 04-08-07 15:27
Bailey's cruising along more towards the front though a few times he has been in the back. Zooming around the track, Bailey catches glimpses of friends cheering for him. There are also Gryffindors who aren't his friends but are his housemates. In fact, all of Hogwarts out to watch the Long Distance race are cheering for both Phin and him. It's a good feeling.
It's an especially good feeling seeing as how none of Bailey's family is there. Not that he expected either of his parents to show up. It's Sunday, which means they had their usual Sunday brunch at one of their clubs. Bailey is sure his mother would tell him Sunday brunch is far too important a social occassion to be missing for some little broom race.
Somewhere around the 25th lap, Bailey gets a really nice surprise. He sees his paternal grandparents in one of the stands, waving a Gryffindor banner. Bailey had written them to let them know about the race but they are always off on some trip, enjoying their retirement so he'd not expected to see them until well into the summer. Having them here is absolutely great!
The race progresses with Bailey working his way both to the front and along the outside. At the first turn of the 45th lap, Bailey really pours on the speed. Crossing the line as the 49th lap begins, Bailey is in good position. There are only two people ahead of him and he's picking up even more speed.
Without any warning, Bailey is bumped from behind as he starts the first turn of the final lap, the 50th. With the combination of the speed and the turn, Bailey starts cartwheeling, flipping away from the track as he turns over and over fighting for control of his broom. Bailey crashes into the wall of one of the stands, the crushing blows that should have come thankfully softened by the quick thinking of both Viktor Krum and the judge from the Sprint Lawson Jones.
Later, when he's head is much clearer after the blow it took, Bailey learns that it was Lucy Macharinyang from the African school who hit him. She hadn't know her broom handle had a hairline crack that finally gave way totally from the combination of speed and longevity of continuous use. Lucy's broom snapped in her hands, not giving her any time to try for a safe landing. Less than a second after she slammed into Bailey. Bailey learned all this from Lucy herself from her bed next to his in the hospital wing.
It was also later that Bailey's grandparents, sitting at his bedside, who told Lucy and Bailey that the final for their group was Phinfilius Hodfuffer-Flefferfore in first, Hortense Mercier with second, Aiden Darling in third, followed by Carter Chimerakis, Arnóra Waechter, Christoph Ehrlich, Tyrone Williams, Jay Chambers, Penelope Guerra, Anke Søgaard, Charlemagne Le Moüel, and Peter Pweto, respectively.
Bailey if of course not at all happy to have crashed but at least his grandparents are here with him to spend some time.
Group 7: Long Distance
Author: Rolf Haaken
Date: 04-08-07 17:16
A collective cringe had gone through those gathered at the pitch when Lucy Macharinyang, a student at Okapi École de Sorcellerie, has so spectacularly crashed into Bailey Gray of Hogwarts. Lucy and Bailey had been carefully taken up to the Hogwarts castle, both unconscious but according to Coach Viktor Krum, both appeared to have escaped truly serious injury. Rolf thought it modest of Coach Krum to phrase it that way when he's one of the reason's Bailey didn't get killed when the 6th year slammed into the side of one of the stands.
The knowledge that both Group 6 participants will be fine helps lift the mood around the pitch back to what it had been. Rolf can't wait to get his portion of today's races going. Not only is he excited about the race itself but he's hungry. There's been no formal lunch today but the concession stands have sandwiches and other food. Rolf ate a little and drank a little but he didn't want to feel bogged down with a full stomach during his race. He also didn't want his bladder to demand attention once the race gets going. Then again, maybe a full bladder around lap 25 or 30 would serve to really spur him on all that much quicker to complete the race with the fastest time.
At last Rolf's group is called. Rolf straddles his Silver Arrow 2000, an updated version of a classic broom, bought recently with some of the money he's made off the first strategy game he sold. Taking his mark, being sure to keep his broom handle right at the line and not a hair over, Rolf nods to those on either side of him, Elizabeth Watson and Elenor Branstone. To Elenor, Rolf also says, "I won't hold it against you, Hufflepuff, if you beat me."
Elenor giggles prettily. "That's good since I plan to have you and everyone else eating my dust."
The race starts with a lurch as fourteen flyers, all 17 to 18 years old, vie to get a good start the instant the starting wand goes off. Rolf settles in with the bulk of the competitors, keeping an eye on those shooting to the front at the start and being vigilently aware of anyone who might accidently or on purpose attempt to block Rolf from being able to pull ahead when he's ready to start moving away from the knot of flyers.
Halfway through the race there are six racers bunched together, a lone flyer about two broomlengths behind, and then the other seven. Rolf is part of the six in front as is Elenor.
Ten laps later, it's still the six all in a pack with the other eight more strung out behind. Ten laps after that, the forty-fifth lap, the six start breaking up as well and the eight behind start bunching up again as they try to catch the leaders.
The fiftieth lap has Rolf exchanging the lead with Kaaria Gitonga and Tim Joshevama. Elenor, Karl Vellesen-Gjesdahl, and Elisaveta Shreckengost are hot on their heels. Rolf pushes his broom for more speed and somehow it gives it to him. At the finish line he edges past Kaaria for the win. Kaaria takes second and Tim third. Elenor ties for fourth with Elisaveta.
When he's on the ground again for the awards presentation and photos, Rolf stomach rumbles at him to the point he nearly tells it aloud to hang on a darn minute. With all of the Obstacle 1 event and the first six groups of the Obstacle 2 event ahead of him before Rolf competes again, the second he's done with photos, Rolf heads to get a sandwich and something to drink before joining Gabby, Jane, Douglas, and various family members here to watch Rolf, Jane, and Hank in today's events.
The Rings (Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 04-08-07 18:42
From where she stands on the side of the pitch, Etta stares up at the field of rings that make up the obstacle course for the first group's first round. The rings are nice and large but that doesn't mean Etta or any of those she's competing against should be complacent this round. Some of those rings are spinning and some are passed through only after navigating tight, sharp turns. There are some that from this vantage point also look to be spaced closely enough together on slightly different heights that passing cleanly through one then the other won't be easy.
No, the nice, large rings are not something Etta is going to scoff at.
The order of participation is being drawn. All in Etta's group, including Etta, hold their breaths, none wanting to be first. Judge Nobuyuki Inoue announces, "Jaako Hämäläinen."
Etta's joy at not being first is short lived when her name is called second. That means if and when Jaako is eliminated, Etta becomes first in line. That means that everyone can watch her and learn from her mistakes. Bloody excellent.
Third to tenth are Pilar Rivera, Dálkr Metzger, Ralphie Young, Hannah Berry, Daniel Gelson, Lurdes Castillo, Manuel Ruiz, and Isabella Cacciatore.
Etta is slightly envious of Daniel's seventh place draw. Oh well. Nothing she can do but get out there, do her best, and be glad she's not poor Jaako going first. Unlike with the next obstacle course event, participants waiting their turns can stay on the pitch to watch others competing.
Jaako gets through his first round without being eliminated. While Etta wouldn't mind already having one less competitor, she's so very glad she won't be first the next round if she gets cleanly through this one!
Her group's first elimination doesn't happen until the second round when Manuel Ruiz takes a sharp turn so tightly he can't get to the ring at all much less fly cleanly through it. Round three sees Dálkr Metzger and Lurdes Castillo eliminated, the first for bumping a ring, the second for missing one in much the same way Manuel had.
Round four's rings are smaller than round three's and now they don't have to just fly a clean course, they have to do it quickly. With time added, three more get eliminated by touching rings in their hurry to get through all the obstacles quickly: Jaako Hämäläinen, Pilar Rivera, and Ralphie Young.
Etta takes a deep breath. She's first in line now when the course is at its hardest yet!
And The Winners Are... (Daniel Gelson)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 04-08-07 19:00
Daniel gulps as the rings for round 5 are placed. Down here on the pitch they look impossibly small. He pokes Etta in the arm. "Better you than me first."
Etta sticks her tongue out at him then grins. "No offense but I'd rather someone other than Jaako have been eliminated last round."
Couch Krum signals Etta. Daniel pokes her again. "You're on. Good luck."
"Thanks! I need all I can get!"
Hannah, Isabella, and Daniel watch Etta. Daniel almost doesn't want to breath in case it somehow would affect Etta. She's doing great with a really good time until the next to the last ring. The tail end of her broom just barely brushes the ring. Etta finishes the last ring then lands, disappointment etched on her face.
Daniel says consolingly, "If all of us make a mistake, you could still be in it with that grand time you turned in."
Etta nods, her eyes going up to watch Hannah's round. Daniel notices Etta's shoulders slumping when Hannah flies the course cleanly. Her time isn't as good as Etta's but with Etta's mistake, that doesn't matter now.
Daniel has to concentrate on his own turn now. He reaches the start and waits for the go. When it comes he shoots off, flying through one ring after another, aware only of getting quickly through one then reaching the next. When Daniel crosses the end line, he thinks he's flew cleanly through all the rings but he could have brushed a ring without realizing.
That's exactly what happened. About halfway through the course, Daniel touched a ring with an elbow. He never even felt it! His time is also better than Hannah's but again, that doesn't.
Isabella goes next. By the sixth ring all know how Group 1's portion ends. Isabella had touched two rings by then. When she's through the entire course, she's added another touch. The official standings are Hannah Berry, who's from Watling's, Daniel, then Etta. She and Daniel walk over to congratulate Hannah then all three go to mid-pitch for their awards.
The Next Three Groups For Obstacle 1 (Deak)
Author: Kody
Date: 04-08-07 20:05
Deak's really happy for his "cousin" Daniel and their friend Etta. He barely has time to congratulate them both before he's got to join with the others from Group 2, to find out their order of competition. Deak breathes a sigh of relief when his name is called for the fifth position. The other Hogwarts student in this group Milo Martin gets the eighth spot.
When the second person to go, Hedwig Wagner, Deak feels sorry for her. Hedwig is really nice, the sort of person few others can find a reason to dislike. That same round Seth Thompson is eliminated when he goes the wrong way through a ring. Only one round down and two people are out.
Round two is luckier for them all. The remaining twelve move on to round three but then Prior Peltier, Lacey Gershon, and Milo Martin are out. One by one the field is whittled down. At round six it's Deak along with his "cousin" Cara Darling, Jorge Zapata, Meagan Ryder, and Adnan Hafidha.
Looking at the small rings, for the first time Deak wishes he weren't long of limb and all elbows thanks to another, recent growth spurt. He'll just have to tuck in like he's been practicing for weeks now. Whatever he does it works. Deak is going on to round seven. Sadly, Cara is eliminated.
If Deak thought the round six rings were small then round seven's are positively tiny. Deak, aware that time is a factor since round four, moves as quickly as he dares, stretching long the length of his broom to help cut down the chance of one of his long arms or legs touching a ring. Adding to the difficulty is keeping any part of his broom from touching, easier heading into a ring than passing out of it.
When round 7 ends, all four of those who ran the course have touched rings. Deak jumps up and down in glee when his name is called as having the fastest time. Jorge Zapata takes second and Meagan Ryder is third by a mere half a second over Adnan.
His part over, Deak settles in to eatting and watching the rest of the day's competitions. Unfortunately, third year Anne Kendrick nor fourth years Barnaby Barlow and Tiffany Grant place in their respective Obstacle 1 groups. For Group 3 it's Okapi École de Sorcellerie's Tamil Kalamaras in first, Durmstrang Institute's Heike Obergföll in second and Hogwarts's own Berengaria Montagu.
Group 4's results are Jesse Summerville of Watling's, La Escuela de Hechiceria's entrant Lucia Nuñez, and Dita Mazur from Beauxbatons.
Through the Rings
Author: Alanna Beck
Date: 04-09-07 09:08
Alanna gulped inwardly when her name was drawn first as the judges determined the order for Group 5. The other Hogwarts contestant, Fritz, wound up being selected for the last position. Alanna swung her leg over the side of her Nimbus 2001 and kicked off into the air, desperately hoping she wouldn't screw up in front of everybody right there in the first round.
Although the rings were fairly large, they were staggered at different heights in the air, so Alanna had to maneuver her broomstick up and down, side to side and so on as she ran through the course. She didn't realize it at the time, but she hardly breathed until she soared through the very last hoop. Relief flooded over her when she discovered that she hadn't made a complete fool out of herself.
Only one of the other 13 contestants didn't make it to the next round. After Fritz's turn, Alanna was once again in the air, this time going through smaller hoops. She was glad that the round wasn't timed, because it allowed her to be a little more careful than she might otherwise had been, had she been forced to race through them. Three contestants were bumped from that round. Fritz was still in it, however.
Round 3 was certainly more difficult, as the hoops were even smaller. At one point, Alanna almost caught her sleeve on a hoop but she managed not to touch it at all. Four more dropped out in that round, but the two from Hogwarts had made it to the final course.
This was the one where Alanna had to be careful and speedy. She took off, pretending as if she were in the middle of a Quidditch match, where she had the quaffle and the opposing chasers were after her. She pretended as if they were the hoops and that she couldn't get too close to them or they'd get the ball from her. It almost worked, but Alanna's foot made contact with one of the hoops towards the end of the course.
Everyone else participating in the final round made contact with a hoop or two during their race through the obstacle course, everyone except for Fritz, who'd somehow managed to dart through every single tiny hoops without so much as a hair touching them. He wound up winning first place, both for his excellent maneuvering and time. Alanna, having the second best time, won second place.
* Jointly written with Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Obstacle 2 Starts (Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 04-09-07 18:00
Olive stands not all that far from the locker room where she'll soon be spending a little time, unless her name is first for Obstacle 2 that is. Or if she's even in the first five for this never event. Then she'll have ten minutes to inspect the obstacles that will make up the course she'll be flying.
The Obstacle 1 - Group 7 winners are getting their trophies and having pictures made. Already the rings for the course they flew are disappearing. The two Hogwarts 7th years in that event were just barely shut out. Siegfried Dewhurst ranked 4th and Orla Quirke 5th. In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd were Mathieu Peltier, Ulla Burundi, and Rogelio Zubizarreta, representing Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Okapi École de Sorcellerie, and La Escuela de Hechiceria, respectively.
Coach Krum does that thing that makes his voice project as though he's speaking into a microphone. The round of applause going again for the Obstacle 1 - Group 7 winners dies down as Coach Krum explains the never event and introduces the judges for it: Zuleika Micallef, Sauville Desjardins, Jiera Stankeviãienò. Olive starts thinking about what an uber cool name Zuleika is and nearly misses the rest of what's being said, which is the list of which five will fly first.
The very judge whose name Olive loves, Zuleika Micallef announces, "Domingos Ferreira, Natalya Smirnoff, Napoleon Olivier, Blanca Brandão, and Olive Green will fly in the first half of the round. The order for the second half is André Vincent, Alastor Jenkins, Jessica Miller, Jacob Harris, and Sonya Karlowitz."
Coach Krum takes over speaking again. "All of you for Group 1 vill now please report to the locker room with the green flag on the door. Chriselda Dresner of Durmstrang Institute and Melvin Broccoli of Vatling's Vizarding Academy will check you in. When the course is ready for inspection, they will let you five in the first half know."
Olive joins the nine others in her group and enters the designated locker room. They take seats on some of the benches, while Chriselda Dresner reminds the competetors of things like they will see green lights as their guides to the correct path for flying the course. The other of the professors sponsoring the event who'd checked the entrants in, Mr. Broccoli, enters several minutes later. "Domingos Ferreira, Natalya Smirnoff, Napoleon Olivier, Blanca Brandão, and Olive Green will report to the pitch now."
Olive picks up the broom she's been allowed to have at school since her name was first drawn to participate in the broom racing and goes out for her ten minute inspection of the obstacle course. Having been practicing for months, even before the goblet was made available to enter this spectific event, Olive thought she'd be prepared for the real thing. Walking out of the locker room, Olive finds that she is and she isn't. Her stomach starts fluttering with nerves and she tells herself to stop being a silly ninny, just think of this as another practice run.
On her broom, Olive flies from one obstacle to another, taking note of dips, climbs, zig zags and turns. She fixes in her mind that the 6th obstacle has to be timed just right if the 7th obstacle is to be made without a penalty. The ten minutes flies by. Olive snorts at thinking up an unintended pun.
Domingos Ferreira stays, as he's got the dubious honor of being first up for the event. The other four are directed to the other locker room, a red flag on its door, where Professors Donatain Boulanger of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Hector Garcia from La Escuela de Hechiceria make sure the doors are firmly closed. When Olive sits down beside Natalya Smirnoff, the other girl asks in halting English, "Vy you tink ve are here, not the other room?"
"Probably so we don't talk to the other five about the course," Olive replies.
Natalya nods, "Yes, you are corrected. That is wrong. The vord is correct, no?"
"Yes," Olive smiles.
Natalya goes silent, probably thinking about how she's the next one to go. It doesn't seem all that long to Olive when Mr. Garcia is opening one of the locker room doors and calling Natalya for her turn. Domingos doesn't come in so Olive guesses he's on the sidelines or in the stands, just not here or the other locker room where he could tell the others in his group more about the obstacles.
Olive closes her eyes and tries to bring up mental images of the obstacles. This helps to pass the time, especially once she's the only one left in the locker room. When she's told it's her turn, Olive once again picks up her broom and goes out to the course.
Mounting her broom, Olive flies up to the starting gate. In seconds she's off, doing a lightening quick mental litany of each of the obstacles as she recalls them from the inspection. Up. Sharp turn. Down, down, down. Sideways. Up. Loop back. On and on it goes until she's through the last obstacle.
Olive has one time penalty but even with that she's very pleased with her time. Really, really pleased. She's got the fastest time posted. Now, if the next group of five will all be slightly slower than she was, Olive will be extremely pleased with the final results.
Arrests
Author: Forest
Date: 04-09-07 19:14
Belladonna Sinistra had not been easy to find. When Kingsley Shacklebolt tracked the woman down, she was with her sister and sister-in-law shoe shopping in the very upscale Narcissa's. Kingsley nicely explained to Ms. Sinistra that follow-up questioning is being done in the Weasleys' case. Strictly routine. Telling her companions she'd catch them up at the restaurant for dinner, Belladonna Sinistra went willing to the Ministry, insisting on apparating so as not to muss her clothes in the Floo.
Forest lets Kingsley handle the questioning. He stands with Lisi McFusty on the other side of the one way glass, watching as the interview unfolds. Indigo McFusty, knowing his sister is in good hands, had returned to Hogsmeade.
In the interrogation room, Ms. Sinistra is taking a seat, enthusing to Kingsley, "I really hope you find Charlie - and Ron, soon. Poor Molly must be beside herself. Bill in hospital must have added so much more stress. I just can't imagine."
Kingsley does the same thing Forest had done with Gisela Quackenboss, explaining that some of the questions he'll ask have already been asked, please bear with him. Kingsley starts off with the obvious, "When did you last see Charlie Weasley?"
One question leads to another. Beside Forest, Lisi is standing stock still, intently staring through the glass at Ms. Sinistra.
When Kingsley casually asks, "Do you know Gisela Quackenboss?" Ms. Sinistra repeats the name as if mulling it over. Slowly shaking her head she replies, "A student last term in one of my Astronomy courses."
"Have you ever seen Ms. Quackenboss other than in an academic setting?"
"No, unless it's been somewhere near campus. I see many students at places like the Wyrding Way but I don't socialize with them. I don't keep track of to whom I've said hello when someplace like that."
In the other room, Lisi says quietly, "She's lying. She's picturing Gisela in that same place I saw in Gisela's thoughts. The ones with Ron. And she keeps picturing Charlie there too."
Ten minutes later, Forest goes in and says something to Kingsley that Ms. Sinistra can't overhear. Kingsley gets up and leaves the room to start the paperwork to officially arrest both Belladonna Sinistra and Gisela Quackenboss, who's still at the Ministry currently sitting in one of the holding cells. Forest turns to face Ms. Sinistra, putting both palms flat on the table as he leans forward.
"Where are Charlie and Ron Weasley?"
"I wouldn't know," Ms. Sinistra says with puzzlement.
"We know that Gisela Quackenboss and you are involved in the disappearances of the two Weasleys. It's in your best interests to cooperate and tell us. Whether you do or not, you are under arrest. We already have Ms. Quackenboss."
The perfect designer robes look a little deflated as Belladonna Sinistra says, "Fine, all right. The House Elf doesn't know to feed them so if Gisela and I are stuck here for any length of time, they might starve."